With Dust Cap Patents (Class 152/428)
  • Patent number: 11590811
    Abstract: A valve stem support apparatus for supporting a valve stem while attached to a pump includes a bracket having a bracket top side, a bracket right side and a bracket left side. The bracket top side has a valve aperture extending therethrough. The valve aperture slidingly receives a valve stem of a tire of a bicycle. Each of the bracket left side and the bracket right side has a screw aperture extending therethrough. A receiving distance between the bracket right side and the bracket left side is wider than a rim of the bicycle. A pair of thumb screws is coupled to the bracket. The pair of thumb screws is threadingly engaged with the screw apertures of the bracket left side and the bracket right side to engage the rim of the bicycle and secure the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Richard Kress
  • Patent number: 8844596
    Abstract: The present invention is a valve for use in a central tire inflation system including a casing securable to the rim of a vehicle in communication with the tire that houses a main body connectable to a pressurized fluid supply of the central tire inflation system, and a valve member moveable within the main body to control the flow of air through the valve. The valve can be mounted flush on the exterior surface of the rim or in a recessed position within the rim, and can be connected to a manifold that is able to control the flow of pressurized fluid from the central tire inflation system to each valve and tire connected to the valve. The operation of the manifold and pressurized fluid supply can be controlled utilizing a controller operably connected to the manifold and fluid supply, and to sensing devices that supply information regarding the operational conditions of the vehicle to the controller to assist in adjusting the inflation of the tires as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Global Engineering Marketing LLC
    Inventors: Martin A. Medley, Douglas P. Miller, Donald E. Blackman, Thomas Varghese
  • Publication number: 20130233068
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a valve stem assembly for a tire pressure monitoring system sensor. The assembly can comprise a valve stem body, and a grommet for purposes of engaging a vehicle wheel. The valve stem body can comprise an attachment end to be attached to a pressure sensor to determine tire air pressure. The valve stem assembly can further comprise a cap that is releasably engaged to the valve stem body which can limit movement of the valve stem assembly relative to the vehicle wheel, the cap having a closed end to cover an air transfer end of the valve stem, and a second open end to overlay the valve stem body and grommet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Seunghun Choe, Hirotake Harada
  • Patent number: 8312904
    Abstract: The invention is based on a valve with a valve body (1) having: an air duct (5) which penetrates the valve body (1), in particular in the axial direction (3), and a valve foot (7) which is formed, in particular in one piece, with the valve body (1), on an end (9) of the valve body (1) which is proximal with respect to a rim edge in the installed position, wherein a distal end (8) of the valve body (1) is provided to engage through a valve hole in the rim edge, and the valve foot (7) is provided for arrangement on a tyre-side side of the rim edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Alligator Ventilfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Renato Palaoro
  • Patent number: 8307869
    Abstract: The present invention is a wheel assembly having a rim with a valve aperture extending therethrough that is designed to receive a valve having a simplified a construction that can be seated directly within a tire wheel assembly to minimize the number and type of components necessary for the valve. The valve includes a main body that is positionable in a sealed and recessed or embedded configuration within the aperture in the wheel rim in communication with the interior of the tire and with a pressurized air source that is used to inflate or deflate the tire. The main body encloses a valve mechanism that includes a components situated within the main body in a manner that enables the parts to be easily removed, cleaned and/or replaced if necessary without having to remove the entire valve assembly from the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Global Engineering Marketing LLC
    Inventors: Martin A. Medley, Douglas P. Miller, Donald E. Blackman
  • Patent number: 7686051
    Abstract: The present invention is a wheel assembly having a rim with a valve aperture extending therethrough that is designed to receive a valve having a simplified a construction that can be seated directly within a tire wheel assembly to minimize the number and type of components necessary for the valve. The valve includes a main body that is positionable in a sealed and recessed or embedded configuration within the aperture in the wheel rim in communication with the interior of the tire and with a pressurized air source that is used to inflate or deflate the tire. The main body encloses a valve mechanism that includes a components situated within the main body in a manner that enables the parts to be easily removed, cleaned and/or replaced if necessary without having to remove the entire valve assembly from the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventors: Martin A. Medley, Douglas P. Miller, Donald E. Blackman
  • Publication number: 20080314488
    Abstract: The invention concerns a snap-in valve for a vehicle tire with a device (5) for measurement of the tire pressure, in which the device (5) is arranged on a valve foot (15) of the snap-in valve, and the snap-in valve includes a groove (13), into which an edge of a valve hole of the vehicle tire (2) can be snapped, in which an outer cylindrical support device (3) can be connected to the snap-in valve above groove (13) of the snap-in valve, so that an edge surface of the support device at least partially lies against the outer surface of the vehicle tire rim (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Global Dynamix AG
    Inventor: Rainer Achterholt
  • Patent number: 7168468
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly includes a rim secured to a hub of a wheel, a tire secured to the rim, and a hollow stud. The hollow stud includes an air passageway and extends through a rim opening that one end secured to the hub. A lug nut is secured to the hollow stud at its other end. The one end is operably connected to a source of compressed air through the air passageway. A central tire inflation valve is secured to the rim. The rim includes a first internal passageway communicating with the air passageway and the valve, and a second internal passageway communicating with the valve and the interior of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hutchinson, S.A.
    Inventors: Jinjun Wang, Olivier Marsaly, Larry Rogers
  • Patent number: 6929020
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling rapid and controlled releasing of fluid pressure, as for deflating a tire. The system, in an embodiment thereof, enables rapid and controlled deflation of a tire to enable a vehicle to navigate in rough or unstable terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Klune Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 6626501
    Abstract: A bicycle may have a combination comprising a wheel and a rim with a hole in the rim, an inner tube with a valve stem in the hole in the rim, and a tire. If the air pressure is low in the inner tube and the bicycle is ridden with the wheel rotating, the valve stem and the wheel may move with respect to each other. The valve stem is in the opening in the rim. With the low air pressure in the inner tube, the inner tube may slip or move with respect to the rim. The slippage or moving places a stress on the valve stem with the possibility of damaging the inner tube and valve stem and causing the air leak as the valve stem is not definitely positioned. The subject invention is a decorative stabilizing device for definitely positioning the valve stem with respect to the rim and lessening the possibility of causing an air leak in the bicycle inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Davidoski
  • Patent number: 6612329
    Abstract: A valve stem and cap apparatus includes a valve stem having a base for attachment to a rim and a tubular sleeve extending upwardly from the base, the sleeve defining an open end. A stem valve is positioned in the sleeve for regulating air flow therethrough. A pair of resilient flanges are positioned on an outer surface of the sleeve adjacent the open end. The apparatus includes a cap having a cylindrical configuration with an open end for selectively covering the open end of the sleeve. The cap defines a pair of oppositely disposed apertures for releasably engaging respective resilient flanges in a snap-fit relationship when the cap is positioned to cover the open end of the sleeve and appropriately rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Scott T. Wright
  • Patent number: 5341833
    Abstract: A tire valve cap for a flush mounted tire valve seals the tire valve against external debris and internal leakage. Slits in the wall of the cap allow the cap to act like a spring after insertion and to permit any internal leakage to intensify the sealing properties of the cap to the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Don Davis
  • Patent number: 5295504
    Abstract: A device for controlling discharge from a pneumatic enclosure under pressure, in particular for controlling rapid deflation of a tire to a predetermined pressure value after the device has been assembled to a valve fitted to the enclosure, the device comprising a pushbutton for actuating a striker adapted to cooperate with the deflation pin of the valve and slidably mounted in a case which provides a chamber coaxially around the striker for the deflation pin, at least one vent hole being provided for exhausting the gaseous fluid contained in the enclosure to be deflated, and the striker being slidably mounted in a piston-washer received in said chamber and adapted to cooperate with the striker by a wedging action to hold the striker in a position that allows escape of the gaseous fluid contained in the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Didier Riquier, Alain Lelievre
  • Patent number: 4869306
    Abstract: An air inlet and automatic pressure adjustment assembly comprising a smaller closed ended inner cylinder with a partially common wall with a larger outer cylinder with there being a vent hole in the common cylinder wall and an adjustable spring loaded to close vent valve in the inner cylinder so that excess air pressure opens this valve to vent air from the tire to the outside. The layer outer cylinder contains a normal air inlet valve that will be held closed by inlet air pressure of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Inventor: Kenneth B. Keys
  • Patent number: 4793395
    Abstract: A tire shock absorber for attachment to a pneumatic tube tire or pneumatic tubeless tire for improving the smoothness of ride and decreasing road vibrations, the tire shock absorber comprising a chamber having at least one valve means which permits the unrestricted flow of air from the tubeless tire or tube tire into the chamber when the tire is subjected to intermittent road pressure, the valve means permitting the return of the displaced air to the tubeless tire or tube tire subsequent to the tire being subjected to the intermittent pressure. The tire shock absorber is designed for positioning either exterior to the tire or interior to the tire depending upon whether or not it is a tube tire or a tubeless tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventor: Donald E. Mahan
  • Patent number: 4487241
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for warning that the pressure in one tire of a pair of dual tires is more than a predetermined amount below the pressure in the other. The system comprises a device fitted to the valve stem of the outer tire and having a single air inlet and two air outlets connected one to each tire. Two pistons are subjected to tire pressures and themselves act on a lever. When the tire pressures differ, the forces on the lever are unbalanced, and the lever tilts. A trigger unit is mounted on the rim of the inner tire and linked to the lever by a stiff wire. When the wire is displaced, a spring loaded arm of the trigger unit is released. On the body of the vehicle there is a switch the operating member of which is struck by the spring loaded arm after that arm has been released. The switch is connected to a warning device in the vehicle cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Inventor: Izak F. van der Merwe
  • Patent number: 4453581
    Abstract: A tire and wheel assembly comprises a wheel rim, a tire and an inner tube having a valve stem, an opening in the wheel rim for receiving the valve stem, a flap disposed between the wheel rim and the inner tube, and a reusable shield interposed between the flap and the wheel rim in proximity to the rim opening to prevent exposure of the flap through the rim opening. The shield includes a relatively small opening for snugly receiving the valve stem, has a size sufficient to completely cover the rim opening, and is constructed of a resilient material which is resistant to deterioration when exposed to substances such as grease, oil, and road salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Inventor: Herbert Easterly
  • Patent number: 4356836
    Abstract: A rigid valve stem cover for flexible tubeless tire type valve stems. The cover has a frustro conical shape which threadably engages the valve stem at its upper end while the bottom edge of the cover comes in contact with the stem and wheel rim area surrounding the stem and provides substantial rigidity to the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Inventors: Clayton P. Wenger, Clifford A. Reeves