US3984808A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic tire trouble indicator with ball/socket switch
Assignee: LAZ SWITCH CO Inc
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Filing: 1975-03-07
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Granted: 1976-10-05
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Expires: 1995-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A ball/socket switch having a sensing arm affixed to the ball and mounted in relation to a pneumatic tire such that deflation of the tire causes the sensing arm to move the ball in the socket. Preferably, both the ball and the socket are injection molded of glass-filled nylon or ABS plastic. First and second electrical conductors, one affixed to the ball and the other affixed to the socket are normally maintained out of contact by a spring loaded ball detent mechanism. When the deflation of a pneumatic tire causes the ball to move in the socket by an adequate amount, the electrical conductors contact one another. A suitable power source and indicator connected in series with the electrical conductors results in a visual and/or audio indication of conductor contact and, thus, a visual and/or audio indication that the associated pneumatic tire is deflated.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Laz
- 👤 George Laz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:41
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/06; B60C23/08; G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G2009/04703; G05G2009/04707; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04744
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
In a pneumatic tire trouble indicator comprising a tire deflation sensing switch connected to complete an electrical circuit between a power source and an electrical indicator, the improvement comprising an improved tire deflation sensing switch, said improved tire deflation sensing switch comprising: a socket housing formed of a nonelectrically conductive material, said socket housing defining a spherical socket; a switch ball formed of a nonelectrically conductive material, said switch ball mounted in said spherical socket so as to be rotatable therein; a first cylindrical electrical conductor mounted in a predetermined region of said spherical socket so as to impinge on said switch ball; A second cylindrical electrical conductor mounted in a predetermined region of said switch ball so as to impinge on the wall of said spherical socket; said first and second cylindrical electrical conductors being positioned such that they lie in parallel spaced planes and are out of contact with one another when said switch ball is in a predetermined normal position in said spherical socket and are brought into contact with one another when said switch ball is moved to other positions in said spherical socket; and, a sensing arm affixed to said switch ball, said sensing arm adapted to be impinged upon by the bulging of the side wall of a pneumatic tire when said improved tire deflation sensing switch is mounted in a position such that said sensing arm is located adjacent the bulging region of said side wall of said pneumatic tire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
In a pneumatic tire trouble indicator comprising a tire deflation sensing switch connected to complete an electrical circuit between a power source and an electrical indicator, the improvement comprising an improved tire deflation sensing switch, said improved tire deflation sensing switch comprising: a socket housing formed of a nonelectrically conductive material, said socket housing defining a spherical socket; a switch ball formed of a nonelectrically conductive material, said switch ball mounted in said spherical socket so as to be rotatable therein; a first cylindrical electrical conductor mounted in a predetermined region of said spherical socket so as to impinge on said switch ball; A second cylindrical electrical conductor mounted in a predetermined region of said switch ball so as to impinge on the wall of said spherical socket; said first and second cylindrical electrical conductors being positioned such that they lie in parallel spaced planes and are out of contact with one another when said switch ball is in a predetermined normal position in said spherical socket and are brought into contact with one another when said switch ball is moved to other positions in said spherical socket; and, a sensing arm affixed to said switch ball, said sensing arm adapted to be impinged upon by the bulging of the side wall of a pneumatic tire when said improved tire deflation sensing switch is mounted in a position such that said sensing arm is located adjacent the bulging region of said side wall of said pneumatic tire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An improved pneumatic tire trouble indicator as claimed in claim 1 including a detent mechanism mounted in said socket housing for maintaining said switch ball in said predetermined normal position until a suitable force is applied to said sensing arm by said bulging sidewall of said pneumatic tire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An improved pneumatic tire trouble indicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said detent mechanism is a spring loaded ball detent mechanism and wherein said switch ball includes a recess adapted to receive the detent ball of said spring loaded ball detent mechanism when said switch ball is in said predetermined normal position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
An improved pneumatic tire trouble indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said socket housing is formed of a main socket element and a cover socket element, said main and cover socket elements being assemblable together in a predetermined manner such that said spherical socket is defined by said main and cover socket elements, said cover element including a cylindrical aperture allowing access to said spherical socket, and wherein said switch ball includes an arm passing through said cylindrical aperture, said sensing arm being attached to said arm of said switch ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improved pneumatic tire trouble indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensing arm is formed of a breakable material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improved pneumatic tire trouble indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said socket housing and said ball are injection molded of glass-filled nylon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
A sensing switch comprising: a socket housing formed of a nonelectrically conductive material, said socket housing defining a spherical socket; a switch ball formed of a nonelectrically conductive material, said switch ball mounted in said spherical socket so as to be rotatable therein; a first cylindrical electrical conductor mounted in a predetermined region of said spherical socket so as to impinge on said switch ball; a second cylindrical electrical conductor mounted in a predetermined region of said switch ball so as to impinge on the wall of said spherical socket; said first and second cylindrical electrical conductors being positioned such that they lie in parallel spaced planes and are out of contact with one another when said switch ball is in a predetermined normal position in said spherical socket and are brought into contact with one another when said ball is moved to other positions in said spherical socket; a sensing arm affixed to said switch ball so as to extend outwardly therefrom; and, a detent mechanism mounted in said socket housing for maintaining said switch ball in said predetermined normal position until a suitable force is applied to said sensing arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
192 words
A sensing switch comprising: a socket housing formed of a nonelectrically conductive material, said socket housing defining a spherical socket; a switch ball formed of a nonelectrically conductive material, said switch ball mounted in said spherical socket so as to be rotatable therein; a first cylindrical electrical conductor mounted in a predetermined region of said spherical socket so as to impinge on said switch ball; a second cylindrical electrical conductor mounted in a predetermined region of said switch ball so as to impinge on the wall of said spherical socket; said first and second cylindrical electrical conductors being positioned such that they lie in parallel spaced planes and are out of contact with one another when said switch ball is in a predetermined normal position in said spherical socket and are brought into contact with one another when said ball is moved to other positions in said spherical socket; a sensing arm affixed to said switch ball so as to extend outwardly therefrom; and, a detent mechanism mounted in said socket housing for maintaining said switch ball in said predetermined normal position until a suitable force is applied to said sensing arm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A sensing switch as claimed in claim 7 wherein said detent mechanism is a spring loaded ball detent mechanism and wherein said switch ball includes a recess adapted to receive the detent ball of said spring loaded ball detent mechanism when said switch ball is in said predetermined normal position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A sensing switch as claimed in claim 7 wherein said socket housing is formed of a main socket element and a cover socket element, said main and cover socket elements being assemblable together in a predetermined manner such that said spherical socket is defined by said main and cover socket elements, said cover element including a cylindrical aperture allowing access to said spherical socket, and wherein said switch ball includes an arm passing through said cylindrical aperture, said sensing arm being attached to said arm of said switch ball.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sensing switch as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said sensing arm is formed of a breakable material; and, said socket housing and said ball are injection molded of glass-filled nylon.
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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) | 1979-10-05 | 1980-04-05 | 1980-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-05 | 1984-04-05 | 1984-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-05 | 1988-04-05 | 1988-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |