US3770040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tire with safety indicator means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-15
•
Granted: 1973-11-06
•
Expires: 1991-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A tire safety indicator arrangement is shown in conjunction with a tire having an inner portion and a ground engaging tread portion. Mounted on the outside of the inner portion and at the bottom of a groove formed between two treads is an energy transmitting element adapted for reflecting or transmitting the energy entering the groove. As the depth of the groove is shorted due to the wearing away of the treads, the amount of energy entering the groove increases to a point where the reflective or transmitting properties of the groove element enable a viewer to observe the worn condition. Several tread designs are shown and several methods are disclosed for dynamically performing safety checks on a tire having the safety indicator therein.
Inventors
- 👤 De Cicco M Augusta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:20
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C11/00; B60C11/24; B60C11/246; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
In a tire having a casing portion and a tread portion having continuous circumferential Grooves formed therein, said grooves extending from a top point at an outer periphery of said tread portion of said tire where said tread portion engages the ground substantially through said tread portion to a bottom point of said tread portion beyond the outer periphery of said casing portion, wherein at least one of said grooves is formed by sides arranged such that said groove has a top point of width smaller than the width of said bottom point so as to control the amount of energy transmitted through said groove from said top point width, a device for providing indications when the extent of at least one of said grooves is reduced to a certain predetermined depth representative of an unsafe tread condition, said device being a continuous circumferential band permanently secured beyond said periphery of said casing portion at said bottom point of said at least one of said grooves in a position whereby energy transmitted from said outer periphery of said tread through said at least one groove will strike said device, said device arranged in conjunction with said groove sides and with said groove top point so as to increase substantially in reflected energy when said groove extent has been reduced to at least said certain point, said substantial increase in reflected energy being controlled by the amount of energy permitted to strike said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
In a tire having a casing portion and a tread portion having continuous circumferential Grooves formed therein, said grooves extending from a top point at an outer periphery of said tread portion of said tire where said tread portion engages the ground substantially through said tread portion to a bottom point of said tread portion beyond the outer periphery of said casing portion, wherein at least one of said grooves is formed by sides arranged such that said groove has a top point of width smaller than the width of said bottom point so as to control the amount of energy transmitted through said groove from said top point width, a device for providing indications when the extent of at least one of said grooves is reduced to a certain predetermined depth representative of an unsafe tread condition, said device being a continuous circumferential band permanently secured beyond said periphery of said casing portion at said bottom point of said at least one of said grooves in a position whereby energy transmitted from said outer periphery of said tread through said at least one groove will strike said device, said device arranged in conjunction with said groove sides and with said groove top point so as to increase substantially in reflected energy when said groove extent has been reduced to at least said certain point, said substantial increase in reflected energy being controlled by the amount of energy permitted to strike said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said energy transmitted through said groove is light energy and wherein said device is a light energy reflective metallic band entirely contained within each said groove said metallic band having a side thereof integral with at least one groove side and wherein said tread portion is divided into a plurality of individual tread sections, each extending circumferentially around said tire, said grooves being formed between said tread sections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said metallic band includes a light emitting substance having phosphorescent properties.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said metallic band is adapted for the passage of energy signals from a first fixed point on said ground to a second fixed point on said ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein said signals may be passed through said band from said first to said second point when said tire is moving with respect to said ground.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein said signals are passed from said first point to said metallic band of said tire, through said band and back to said second point substantially simultaneously.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein said signals are passed from said first point to said metallic band, stored by said band and passed back to said second point a discrete period of time thereafter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said device includes an energy sensitive element adapted to provide a substantially invisible color when said energy striking said element is below a critical point and further adapted to provide a highly visible color when said striking enery increases beyond said critical point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention set forth in claim 8 wherein said element is further adapted for providing said highly visible color permanently after said energy first passes said critical point without regard for subsequent variations in said energy levels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention set forth in claim 9 wherein said striking energy is heat energy and wherein said critical point corresponds to a threshold unsafe operating point of said tire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein said element is a continuous band entirely contained within each of said grooves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said band is positioned in said groove at said bottom of said groove and against a side wall of said groove leaving the bottom of said groove substantially free of said band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
220 words
In a tire having a casing portion and a tread portion having continuous circumferential grooves formed thErein, said grooves extending from a top point at an outer periphery of said tread portion of said tire where said tread portion engages the ground substantially through said tread portion to a bottom point of said tread portion beyond the outer periphery of said casing portion, a device for providing indications when the extent of at least one of said grooves is reduced to a certain predetermined depth representative of an unsafe tread condition, said device being a continuous circumferential band permanently secured beyond said periphery of said casing portion at said bottom point of at least one of said grooves in a position whereby energy transmitted from said outer periphery of said tread through said one groove will strike said device, said device being adapted to be visible to an observer only when said groove extent has been reduced to at least said certain point, said visibility being controlled by the amount of energy permitted to strike said device, said device including an energy sensitive element adapted to provide a substantially invisible color when said energy striking said element is below a critical point and further adapted to provide a highly visible color when said striking energy increases beyond said critical point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
220 words
In a tire having a casing portion and a tread portion having continuous circumferential grooves formed thErein, said grooves extending from a top point at an outer periphery of said tread portion of said tire where said tread portion engages the ground substantially through said tread portion to a bottom point of said tread portion beyond the outer periphery of said casing portion, a device for providing indications when the extent of at least one of said grooves is reduced to a certain predetermined depth representative of an unsafe tread condition, said device being a continuous circumferential band permanently secured beyond said periphery of said casing portion at said bottom point of at least one of said grooves in a position whereby energy transmitted from said outer periphery of said tread through said one groove will strike said device, said device being adapted to be visible to an observer only when said groove extent has been reduced to at least said certain point, said visibility being controlled by the amount of energy permitted to strike said device, said device including an energy sensitive element adapted to provide a substantially invisible color when said energy striking said element is below a critical point and further adapted to provide a highly visible color when said striking energy increases beyond said critical point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein said element is further adapted for providing said highly visible color permanently after said energy first passes said critical point without regard for subsequent variations in said energy levels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein said band is positioned in said groove at said bottom of said groove and against a side wall of said groove leaving the bottom of said groove substantially free of said band.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
211 words
In a tire having a casing portion and a tread portion having continuous circumferential grooves formed therein, said grooves extending from a top point at an outer periphery of said tread portion of said tire where said tread portion engages the ground substantially through said tread portion to a bottom point of said tread portion beyond the outer periphery of said casing portion, a device for providing indications when the extent of at least one of said grooves is reduced to a certain predetermined depth representative of an unsafe tread condition, said device being a continuous circumferential band permanently secured beyond said periphery of said casing portion at said bottom point of at least one of said grooves in a position whereby energy transmitted from said outer periphery of said tread through said one groove will strike said device, said device comprising means for transmitting substantially all of said energy striking said device, means including said tread portion of said tire for substantially inhibiting said energy from striking said device when said tire is new and for increasing the amount of said energy striking said device as said tire becomes worn, and said transmitting means including means for converting energy striking said device from a first frequency to a second frequency.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
211 words
In a tire having a casing portion and a tread portion having continuous circumferential grooves formed therein, said grooves extending from a top point at an outer periphery of said tread portion of said tire where said tread portion engages the ground substantially through said tread portion to a bottom point of said tread portion beyond the outer periphery of said casing portion, a device for providing indications when the extent of at least one of said grooves is reduced to a certain predetermined depth representative of an unsafe tread condition, said device being a continuous circumferential band permanently secured beyond said periphery of said casing portion at said bottom point of at least one of said grooves in a position whereby energy transmitted from said outer periphery of said tread through said one groove will strike said device, said device comprising means for transmitting substantially all of said energy striking said device, means including said tread portion of said tire for substantially inhibiting said energy from striking said device when said tire is new and for increasing the amount of said energy striking said device as said tire becomes worn, and said transmitting means including means for converting energy striking said device from a first frequency to a second frequency.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention set forth in claim 16 wherein said band is positioned in said groove at said bottom of said groove and against a side wall of said groove leaving the bottom of said groove substantially free of said band.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |