Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-16
2001-11-20
Fleming, Fritz (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
Automobile
C307S009100, C340S443000, C073S651000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320277
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates, in general, to a device which provides an indication when a tire or wheel becomes loose on a vehicle and, more particularly, to a device that provides both an audible and visual warning to the vehicle driver when a tire or wheel becomes loose on a vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
Various types of sensors are available to determine the condition or state of tires on a vehicle, however, such sensors usually detect tire pressure and provide an indication when the tire pressure is either excessively high or extremely low. Such sensors do not provide any type of indication as to whether the tire and/or wheel on which it is mounted is loose. Typically, the driver of a vehicle, particularly a truck, is unaware of the condition of the tires or wheels when operating same. In addition, since many truck tires are of the “re-cap” type, the truck driver is unaware when the tire tread becomes separated from the tire core and “flies off” same. Such a situation creates a significant danger particularly to those vehicles in the vicinity of the truck. The drivers of the vehicles in the vicinity of the truck will attempt to avoid hitting or being hit by the tire tread which has separated from the tire core and which is flying off of same. By attempting to avoid hitting or being hit by the tire tread, the drivers of the adjacent vehicles may swerve to avoid same and, while swerving, will create a very dangerous condition which might result in an accident. Such accidents, since they typically are at high rates of speed, can be very severe and can result in serious injuries and/or deaths. In view of this, it has become desirable to develop a relatively inexpensive device to provide an immediate audible and visual indication to the vehicle driver that one of the tires and/or wheels on his vehicle is loose or that the tire tread is separating from the tire core. By providing such an audible and visual alarm, the vehicle driver can take the necessary steps to safely stop the vehicle.
THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a warning to a vehicle driver of the existence of a loose tire or wheel on his vehicle or the separating of a tire tread from a tire core by providing a device which is mounted adjacent the outer surface of the tire and which is activated when the surface of the tire contacts same. The device is comprised of an L-shaped metallic member and a spaced-apart metallic arm member with an insulator interposed therebetween. The end of the arm member is bent so as to be adjacent to the L-shaped member resulting in the creation of a normally open electrical contact between the tip of the arm member and the L-shaped member. When the tire and/or wheel becomes loose or when the tire tread starts separating from the tire core, the outer surface of the tire tread contacts the arm member causing the tip on the end thereof to contact the L-shaped member closing the normally open electrical contact between same resulting in the actuation of an audible and visual alarm alerting the driver of the vehicle of a dangerous condition permitting the driver to take the necessary steps to safely stop the vehicle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4458535 (1984-07-01), Juergens
patent: 6028508 (2000-02-01), Mason
patent: 6144904 (2000-11-01), Tseng
DeBeradinis Robert L
Fleming Fritz
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