Signals and indicators – Indicators – Element wear type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-21
2001-04-24
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Indicators
Element wear type
C152S154200, C116S206000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220199
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tire with worn tread indicators and more particularly pertains to a new tire with worn tread indicator for providing a visual indication that a tire's tread is worn below a predetermined level.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of tire with worn tread indicators is known in the prior art. More specifically, tire with worn tread indicators heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U. S. Pat. No. 3,814,160 by Creasey; U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,274 by Awaya et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,376 by Norton; U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,742 by Chamblin; U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,179 by Hines; and U.S. Pat. No. 647,987 by Roney.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new tire with worn tread indicator. The inventive device includes a tire with a treaded outer surface having a plurality of alternating tread channels and tread ridges. A plurality of spaced apart elongate gel tubes are embedded in the tire and positioned adjacent the treaded outer surface. In the lumen of each gel tube is a visibly detectable colored liquid therein.
In these respects, the tire with worn tread indicator according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a visual indication that a tire's tread is worn below a predetermined level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of tire with worn tread indicators now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new tire with worn tread indicator construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a visual indication that a tire's tread is worn below a predetermined level.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the tire with worn tread indicators mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tire with worn tread indicator which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tire with worn tread indicators, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a tire with a treaded outer surface having a plurality of alternating tread channels and tread ridges. A plurality of spaced apart elongate gel tubes are embedded in the tire and positioned adjacent the treaded outer surface. In the lumen of each gel tube is a visibly detectable colored liquid therein.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the tire with worn tread indicators mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tire with worn tread indicator which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tire with worn tread indicators, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such tire with worn tread indicator economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator for providing a visual indication that a tire's tread is worn below a predetermined level.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator which includes a tire with a treaded outer surface having a plurality of alternating tread channels and tread ridges. A plurality of spaced apart elongate gel tubes are embedded in the tire and positioned adjacent the treaded outer surface. In the lumen of each gel tube is a visibly detectable colored liquid therein.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator that provides a visual indicator to warn a user when to replace worn tires in order to help reduce the risk of a blow-out from a worn tire.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tire with worn tread indicator that may be used in ties with any type of tread arrangement.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 647987 (1900-04-01), Roney
patent: 3362376 (1968-01-01), Norton
patent: 3814160 (1974-06-01), Creasey
patent: 3929179 (1975-12-01), Hines
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
Smith R. Alexander
LandOfFree
Tire with worn tread indicator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tire with worn tread indicator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tire with worn tread indicator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2463332