Tire inflator

Claim 2

An inflator for tires, comprising a housing, adapted to be hand held, air compressor means including an electric motor mounted in said housing for supplying air under pressure to a tire, adjustable valve means mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said compressor means for selecting a predetermined air pressure for delivery to the tire, said valve means movable between open and closed positions, a hose operatively connected to said valve means to provide air under pressure for delivery to the tire from said compressor means in said open position of said valve means, switch means mounted in said housing and coupled to said motor for supplying electrical energy to said motor in the energized position of said switch means, and actuating means operatively associated with said valve means and said switch means, said actuating means releasing said switch means from its energized position when said closed position of said valve means is obtained when a predetermined pressure is reached in said valve means, such that the supply of compressed air to the tire ceases.

Claim 3

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 1, including regulating means operatively associated with said valve means to select said predetermined pressure for delivery to the tire.

Claim 4

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 2, said regulating means including a dial extending exteriorly of said housing.

Claim 5

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 1, including whistle means operatively associated with said valve means, said whistle means activated when said predetermined pressure has been reached.

Claim 6

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 1, including a trigger mounted on said housing and manually engageable by the user of the inflator for movement between a first and second position, said trigger mechanically connected to said switch means and movable from said first position to said second position, said switch means being energized in said second position, and said actuating means releasing said trigger from said second position to said first position when said predetermined pressure is reached.

Claim 7

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 1, wherein said switch means includes a line cord connected through said housing to provide electrical energy.

Claim 8

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 1, including an air chuck connected to said hose for releasable securement to the tire.

Claim 9

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 1, said valve means comprising a body portion mounted in fixed relationship to said housing, a first chamber in said body portion, said first chamber communicating with said compressor means and said hose, a second chamber in said body portion, an airway passage extending between said chambers, piston means including one section extending in said first chamber, and another section in said second chamber, said piston means being movable axially relative to said chambers between said open and closed postions of said valve means, said open position permitting air entering said first chamber from said compressor means to exit into said hose for delivery to the tire, said closed position permitting air entering said first chamber to flow through said airway passage and into said second chamber, regulating means operatively associated with said piston means to select said predetermined pressure, said piston means extending in said closed position above said predetermined pressure, and said piston means extending in said open position below said predetermined pressure.

Claim 10

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 8, wherein said regulating means comprises a shaft having a knob at one end threadably mounted relative to said housing, a spring extending from the other end of said shaft for applying a biasing force against said piston means, and said biasing force being predetermined relative to the force required to move said piston means between said positions.

Claim 11

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 8, wherein said volume of said first chamber varies with the selected pressure of said regulating means.

Claim 12

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 8, wherein said chambers each have a circular cross-section of differing diameters, said diameter of said first chamber being smaller than the diameter of said second chamber, and said diameters extending co-axially with respect to each other.

Claim 13

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 8, said piston means having an oppositely disposed rear end and a front end, said front end extending within said first chamber, stop means extending outwardly from said front end for engaging a wall of said body portion to limit the travel of said valve means in said open position, and said regulating means being engageable with said rear end.

Claim 14

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 1, wherein said compressor means comprises a motor drive shaft extending from said motor, a first transmission shaft mounted on bearings in said housing, a first reduction gear mounted on said first transmission shaft driven by said motor shaft, a second transmission shaft mounted on bearings in said housing, a second reduction gear mounted on said second transmission shaft, said second reduction gear engageable by a third gear mounted on said first transmission shaft for driving same, and said compressor means including a compressor driven by said second transmission shaft.

Claim 15

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 13, said compressor including a cylinder passing through said housing and partially exposed.

Claim 16

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 1, said actuating means comprises an elongated linkage member having oppositely disposed forward and rearward ends, means for supporting said linkage member in said housing for movement therein, said forward end of said linkage member operatively associated with said valve means, said rearward end of said linkage member operatively associated with said switch means, and said linkage member being displaced by movement of said valve means from said open to said closed position, so as to release said switch means from its energized position such that said compressor means stops.

Claim 17

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 15, wherein said valve means includes piston means movable between said open position and said closed position, and said forward end being engageable by said piston means as the latter moves from said open position to said closed position.

Claim 18

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 15, wherein said switch means is mounted in fixed relation to said housing, said switch means including a lever extending therefrom and resiliently mounted for movement relative to said switch means, said lever in one position maintains said switch means in an energized condition and in another position in a deenergized condition, a latch pivotally mounted relative to said switch means for engagement with said lever, and said latch operatively connected to said rearward end of said linkage member and to said lever, so as to obtain release of said lever to deenergize said compressor means concurrently with the movement of said valve means from said open position to said closed position.

Claim 19

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 17, including a trigger mounted on said housing and manually engageable by the user of the inflator for movement between a first and second position, said trigger mechanically connected to said switch means and movable from said first position to said second position, said switch means being energized in said second position, and said actuating means releasing said trigger from said second position when said predetermined pressure is reached.

Claim 20

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 18, said latch being pivotally mounted on said trigger, said latch being in engagement with said lever in said second position of said trigger so as to energize said switch means, and said latch releasing said lever by means of said linkage member when said valve means moves from said open position to said closed position.

Claim 21

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 19, including menas for biasing said latch in positional engagement with said lever.

Claim 22

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 19, said lever having a shoulder to engage said latch in abutting relationship, and said lever forming part of the mounting for the electrical contacts of said switch means.

Claim 23

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 19, including means for retaining said linkage member in releasably fixed relationship relative to said switch means.

Claim 24

An inflator for tires, comprising a housing, adapted to be hand held, air compressor means including an electric motor mounted in said housing for supplying air under pressure to a tire, adjustable valve means mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said compressor means for selecting a predetermined air pressure for delivery to the tire, said valve means movable between open and closed positions, a hose operatively connected to said valve means to provide air under pressure for delivery to the tire from said compressor means in said open position of said valve means, regulating means operatively associated with said valve means to select said predetermined pressure for delivery to the tire, switch means mounted in said housing and coupled to said motor for supplying electrical energy to said motor in the energized position of said switch means, a trigger mounted on said housing and manually engageable by the user of the inflator for movement between a first and second position, said trigger mechanically linked to said switch means and movable from said first position to said second position, said switch means being energized in said second position, and actuating means operatively associated with said valve means, said trigger and said switch means, said actuating means releasing said trigger from said second position when said closed position of said valve means is obtained, such that when said predetermined pressure is reached in said valve means the supply of compressed air to the tire ceases.

Claim 25

An inflator for tires, comprising a housing, adapted to be hand held, air compressor means including an electric motor mounted in said housing for supplying air under pressure to a tire, adjustable valve means mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said compressor means for selecting a predetermined air pressure for delivery to the tire, said valve means movable between open and closed positions, a hose operatively connected to said valve means to provide air under pressure for delivery to the tire from said compressor means in said open position of said valve means, regulating means operatively associated with said valve means to select said predetermined pressure for delivery to the tire, switch means mounted in said housing and coupled to said motor for supplying electrical energy to said motor in the energized position of said switch means, a trigger mounted on said housing and manually engageable by the user of the inflator for movement between a first and second position, said trigger mechanically linked to said switch means and movable from said first position to said second position, said switch means being energized in said second position, and actuating means operatively associated with said valve means, said trigger and said switch means, said actuating means releasing said trigger from said second position when said closed position of said valve means is obtained, such that when said predetermined pressure is reached in said valve means the supply of compressed air to the tire ceases.

Claim 26

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 23, said regulating means including a dial extending exteriorly of said housing.

Claim 27

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 23, including whistle means operatively associated with said valve means, said whistle means activated when said predetermined pressure has been reached.

Claim 28

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 23, said valve means comprising a body portion mounted in fixed relationship to said housing, a first chamber in said body portion, said first chamber communicating with said compressor means and said hose, a second chamber in said body portion, an airway passage extending between said chambers, piston means including one section extending in said first chamber, and another section in said second chamber, said piston means being movable axially relative to said chambers between said open and closed positions of said valve means, said open position permitting air entering said first chamber from said compressor means to exit into said hose for delivery to the tire, said closed position permitting air entering said first chamber to flow through said airway passage and into said second chamber, regulating means operatively associated with said piston means to select said predetermined pressure, said piston means extending in said closed position above said predetermined pressure, and said piston means extending in said open position below said predetermined pressure.

Claim 29

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 26, wherein said regulating means comprises a shaft having a knob at one end threadably mounted relative to said housing, a spring extending from the other end of said shaft for applying a biasing force against said piston means, said biasing force being predetermined relative to the force required to move said piston means between said positions, and said volume of said first chamber varies with the selected pressure of said regulating means.

Claim 30

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 27, wherein said chambers each have a circular cross-section of differing diameters, said diameter of said first chamber being smaller than the diameter of said second chamber, and said diameters extending co-axially with respect to each other.

Claim 31

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 26, said piston means having an oppositely disposed rear end and a front end, said front end extending within said first chamber, stop means extending outwardly from said front end for engaging a wall of said body portion to limit the travel of said valve means in said open position, and said regulating means being engageable with said rear end.

Claim 32

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 23, said actuating means comprises an elongated linkage member having oppositely disposed forward and rearward ends, means for supporting said linkage member in said housing for movement therein, said forward end of said linkage member operatively associated with said valve means, said rearward end of said linkage member operatively associated with said switch means, said linkage member being displaced by movement of said valve means from said open to said closed position, so as to release said switch means from its energized position such that said compressor means stops, said valve means includes piston means movable between said open position and said closed position, and said forward end being engageable by said piston means as the latter moves from said open position to said closed position.

Claim 33

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 30, wherein said switch means is mounted in fixed relation to said housing, said switch means including a lever extending therefrom and resiliently mounted for movement relative to said switch means, said lever in said second position of said trigger maintaining said lever in a deflected position such that said switch means is energized, a latch pivotally mounted on said trigger for movement relative to said switch means for engagement with said lever, and said latch operatively connected to said rearward end of said linkage member and to said lever, so as to obtain release of said lever from said second position of said trigger to deenergize said compressor means concurrently with the movement of said valve means from said open position to said closed position.

Claim 34

An inflator for tires in accordance with claim 31, said latch being in engagement with said lever in said second position of said trigger so as to energize said switch means, means for biasing said latch in positional engagement with said lever, said lever having a shoulder to engage said latch in abutting relationship, and said lever forming part of the mounting for the electrical contacts of said switch means.