PORTABLE TIRE INFLATOR

Abstract

In some implementations, the inflator may include a compressor coupled to an air hose having an air fitting at a distal end thereof. In addition, the inflator may include a controller configured to control the operation of the compressor. The inflator may include entry keys coupled to the controller for setting a target air pressure for inflating an inflatable object coupled to the air fitting. Moreover, the inflator may include a display coupled to the controller for displaying the target air pressure. Also, the inflator may include a power cord having an accessory plug at a distal and thereof. Further, the inflator may include an indicator provided at the distal end of the power cord that is coupled to the controller to provide an indication that air pressure in the inflatable object has reached the target pressure.

Description

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to portable tire inflator, and more particularly to a portable tire inflator which provides an indication perceptible to a user in a vehicle that the inflator has completed its task of inflating a tire on the vehicle to the desired tire pressure.

BACKGROUND

Portable inflators for inflating automobile tires are known. These inflators may be small enough to be carried by hand, and typically include an electric motor which drives an air pump through gearing and linkage.

Typically, the air pump is a piston in a cylinder. The linkage converts the rotary motion of the motor to a reciprocal motion to reciprocate the piston in the cylinder. A check valve is disposed in the case of the cylinder to admit atmospheric air during a portion of the piston stroke, and during a compression portion of the piston stroke, the check valve prevents air from escaping through that means. The distal end of the cylinder is attached to an air hose in fluid communication with the cylinder, which is attachable to the automotive tire valve, for admitting air compressed by the piston into the tire, thereby inflating the tire.

The pump and motor are typically housed in a housing, along with device electronics for controlling the functions of the inflators. An air pressure sensor is in communication with the device electronics and is disposed to measure the air pressure in the tire as it is being inflated. Typically, an informational display is disposed on the outside of the housing along with controls such as buttons, which are all operably connected to the housing. The device electronics are configured to display (at least) the current tire air pressure on the display. The device electronics are configured to receive (at least) inputs from the controls so that the user can set the desired tire pressure. The device electronics are configured to operate the air pump until the desired tire pressure is achieved and to then cease inflation (by stopping the motor or opening the check valve).

Typically, a portable inflator is powered by direct current (DC) electric power. The inflator may have a two-conductor power cord which is attached to the inflator at a proximal end to power all electric components and is attached to an accessory plug at the distal end. The accessory plug is adapted to plug into the electrical accessory socket (formerly the cigarette lighter socket) of the automobile, which is normally disposed within the front passenger compartment, for example in the dashboard or central console. This accessory socket typically supplies 12V DC power from the automotive electrical system.

In known portable tire inflators, the user is required to remain outside the vehicle and visually monitor the progress of the tire inflation during inflation, until the on-housing display indicates completion, which may expose the user to inclement elements or dangerous conditions such as passing traffic.

There is a need for an indicator to indicate to a user that the inflator has completed its task of inflating the tire to the desired tire pressure. Preferably the indicator will be perceptible by a user in the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present disclosure solely thereto, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a portable tire inflator according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a portable tire inflator according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a portable tire inflator according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a portable tire inflator according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present disclosure, like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the drawings, which illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment, a portable tire inflator 100 includes a compressor 110 coupled to an air hose 115 (not shown to scale) and a valve stem connector 118 for coupling to a corresponding valve stem on a tire or other inflatable object. A controller 120 is coupled to the compressor 110, and to a display 130 and entry keys 135. The controller 120 is configured to control operation of the compressor 110. A user may set a desired pressure, shown on display 130, and otherwise control the operation of compressor 110 using the entry keys 135. For example, up and down arrow keys may be provided to set the desired pressure, and an additional key may be provided to start (and optionally stop) a current inflation operation after the valve stem connector 118 is properly connected to the corresponding valve stem of the object to be inflated (e.g., an automobile tire). In other embodiments, an on/off power switch coupled to the power supply interface 140 may be used to stop a current inflation operation. The power supply interface 140 is coupled to an accessory plug 170 via power supply lines 145 (two conductors) for supplying power to the portable tire inflator 100 via a corresponding plug in an automobile (e.g., 12V DC power from the accessory outlet). A third conductor 125 is mated with the power supply lines 145 to form a power cord 150 with three conductors. The third conductor is connected to an indicator 160 in order to provide a signal perceptible to a user within the vehicle, as discussed in further detail below, when the desired preset tire pressure has been reached.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in a second embodiment, a portable tire inflator 200 omits the third conductor 125 of the FIG. 1 embodiment and instead adds a wireless interface 225 coupled to controller 120 for communicating with an indicator 260 in order to provide a signal perceptible to a user within the vehicle, as discussed in further detail below, when the desired preset tire pressure has been reached.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in a third embodiment, a portable tire inflator 300 adds a rechargeable battery 380 to the FIG. 1 embodiment. The third embodiment operates in the same manner as the FIG. 1 embodiment, providing a signal to the indicator 160 via a third conductor on power cord 150 but in this embodiment the accessory plug 170 is preferably used as an alternative to the rechargeable battery 380, e.g., when the rechargeable battery 380 is so discharged that it cannot supply enough power to operate compressor 110 or when the use of indicator 160 is desired. In an alternative embodiment, the power cord 150 may provide power to charge the rechargeable battery 380 as well.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in a fourth embodiment, a portable tire inflator 400 adds an integral battery to the FIG. 2 embodiment. The fourth embodiment operates the same as the FIG. 2 embodiment, providing a wireless signal to the indicator 260 but in this embodiment the accessory plug 170 is preferably used as an alternative to the rechargeable battery 380, e.g., when the rechargeable battery 380 is so discharged that it cannot supply enough power to operate compressor 110 or when the use of indicator 160 is desired. In an alternative embodiment, the power cord 150 may provide power to charge the rechargeable battery 380 as well.

According to the embodiments of a portable tire inflator as described above, the addition of an indicator 160, 260 provides a key benefit. The indicator 160, 260 is disposed on the power cord 150 near or at the distal end thereof, so it is within the vehicle. It may be incorporated into the accessory plug 170, or on the power cord 150 near the accessory plug 170. The indicator 160, 260 is configured to receive a signal from the device electronics (i.e, controller 120) when the inflator has inflated the tire to a desired preset tire pressure, and to emit an indication which indicates this fact to the user. Additionally, the inflator device electronics (i.e, controller 120) are configured to provide a signal to the indicator 160, 260 when the inflator has inflated the tire to the desired tire pressure via compressor 110.

The indicator 160, 260 may include an electrical audio signal generator such as an annunciator or speaker which is driven to make a sound, such as a click or beep, or recorded voice cue, as the indication that the inflation is complete. The indicator 160, 260 may include a visual signal generator such as a lamp or LED which is driven to light up as the indication that the inflation is complete. Both audio and visual signal generators may be provided simultaneously.

The signal from the inflator device electronics (i.e., controller 120) to the indicator 160, 260 may be wired (i.e., indicator 160, FIGS. 1 and 3), or wireless (i.e., indicator 260, FIGS. 2 and 4). In the case of a wired signal, a third conductor 125 may be provided in the power cord between the device electronics (i.e., controller 120) and the indicator. In that case the third conductor 125 may carry the signal in the form of a pulse or series of pulses generated by the device electronics (i.e, controller 120) when the desired level of tire inflation is reached, which pulse or series of pulses is received by the indicator 160 and acted upon by operating the audio and/or visual signal generator(s). Alternatively, the wired signal may be carried by one conductor of the two-conductor power cord, multiplexed on top of the 12V DC power. Instead of or in addition to a wired signal, the signal may be wireless as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. In the case of a wireless signal, the inflator may have wireless transmitter (i.e., wireless interface 225), for example a radio frequency, infrared, WiFi, or Bluetooth transmitter, which is driven to emit a signal when the desired level of tire inflation is reached, which signal is received by a corresponding radio frequency, infrared, WiFi, or Bluetooth receiver (not shown) coupled to or part of the indicator 260, and acted upon by operating the audio and/or visual signal generator(s) thereof.

Thus, in operation, a user connects the air hose 115 of the inflator to the automotive tire valve via a valve stem connector 118, connects the accessory plug 170 of the power cord to the 12V accessory socket (in any order), and uses the device controls (i.e., entry keys 135) to set the desired tire pressure. The user can then enter the vehicle and remain there safely while the inflator inflates the tire. When the desired tire pressure is reached, the inflator will send a signal to the indicator 160, 260 disposed within the vehicle by wired and/or wireless means as described. Upon receipt of such signal, the indicator 160, 260 will operate the audio and/or visual signal generator (by lighting up and/or beeping, for example) to indicate to the user that the tire inflation process is complete.

By use of the subject technology, a user is not required to remain outside the vehicle during the inflation process to visually monitor the progress of the tire inflation, increasing comfort and safety of the user by allowing the user to return to the safety of the interior of the vehicle.

According to a further aspect of the subject technology, in an embodiment, a rechargeable battery 380 is disposed in the housing for powering the air pump (i.e., compressor 110), device electronics (i.e, controller 120), display 130, and any other components requiring electrical power. The rechargeable battery 380 may be, for example, a lithium battery. The rechargeable battery 380 may be, for example, a bank of batteries. The rechargeable battery 380 may have sufficient power capacity to fully inflate an automotive tire. The rechargeable battery 380 may have 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10,000 or more than 10,000 milliampere-hours (mAH) of power capacity.

In any case, the rechargeable battery 380 is electrically and operatively connected to the air pump (i.e., compressor 110), device electronics (i.e, controller 120), display 130, and any other components of the unit which require electrical power. The device electronics (i.e, controller 120) is configured to manage the charging of the rechargeable battery 380 when the unit is connected to DC power, and for monitoring the charge level of the rechargeable battery 380 during charging, and also while the pump is being used to inflate. In these embodiments (FIGS. 3 and 4), the display 130 and control electronics (i.e, controller 120) are configured to display the charge level of the rechargeable battery 380, as, for example, a percentage of a maximum battery 380 charge (100% being fully charged according to the device electronics), or in a graphic form such as a bar display or a pie display. In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery 380 charge display may be displayed simultaneously with the display of air pressure. In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery 380 charge is displayed alternating with the display of air pressure. In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery 380 charge is displayed on the same display (i.e., display 130) as the current tire air pressure (on the unit housing, or on the indicator 160, 260 as previously described). In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery 380 charge is displayed on a different display (not shown) than the current tire air pressure shown on display 130 which is provided, for example on a housing enclosing the inflator, or on the indicator 160, 260 as previously described, or on a display at the places of the indicators as previously described.

Although the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments and various aspects thereof, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiments described herein, the alternatives mentioned above, and all equivalents thereto.

Claims

1. A portable inflator, comprising: a compressor coupled to an air hose having an air fitting at a distal end thereof;a controller configured to control operation of the compressor;entry keys coupled to the controller for setting a target air pressure for inflating an inflatable object coupled to the air fitting;a display coupled to the controller for displaying the target air pressure;a power cord having an accessory plug at a distal and thereof; andan indicator provided at the distal end of the power cord that is coupled to the controller to provide an indication that air pressure in the inflatable object has reached the target air pressure.

2. The portable inflator of claim 1, wherein the indicator is coupled to the controller via a conductor added to the power cord.

3. The portable inflator of claim 2, wherein the power cord provides power for the compressor and the controller.

4. The portable inflator of claim 2, comprising a rechargeable battery that provides power for the compressor and the controller.

5. The portable inflator of claim 1, wherein the indicator is coupled to the controller via a signal multiplexed onto a conductor of the power cord.

6. The portable inflator of claim 5, wherein the power cord provides power for the compressor and the controller.

7. The portable inflator of claim 5, comprising a rechargeable battery that provides power for the compressor and the controller.

8. The portable inflator of claim 1, wherein the indicator is coupled to the controller via a wireless interface.

9. The portable inflator of claim 8, wherein the power cord provides power for the compressor and the controller.

10. The portable inflator of claim 8, comprising a rechargeable battery that provides power for the compressor and the controller.

11. An portable inflator, comprising: a compressor coupled to an air hose having an air fitting at a distal end thereof;a controller configured to control operation of the compressor;entry keys coupled to the controller for setting a target air pressure for inflating an inflatable object coupled to the air fitting;a display coupled to the controller for displaying the target air pressure; andan indicator coupled to the controller to provide an indication that air pressure in the inflatable object has reached the target air pressure.

12. The portable inflator of claim 11, wherein the indicator is coupled to the controller via a conductor added to a power cord.

13. The portable inflator of claim 12, wherein the power cord provides power for the compressor and the controller.

14. The portable inflator of claim 11, comprising a rechargeable battery that provides power for the compressor and the controller.

15. The portable inflator of claim 11, wherein the indicator is coupled to the controller via a signal multiplexed onto a conductor of a power cord.

16. The portable inflator of claim 15, wherein the power cord provides power for the compressor and the controller.

17. The portable inflator of claim 11, wherein the indicator is coupled to the controller via a wireless interface.

18. The portable inflator of claim 17, comprising a power cord for providing power for the compressor and the controller.

19. The portable inflator of claim 17, comprising a rechargeable battery that provides power for the compressor and the controller.

20. The portable inflator of claim 19, comprising a power cord for providing power for the compressor and the controller.