Brevet US7009506 - Electronic monitoring device and patch assembly

IIIIIIIH

US007009506B2

(12) United States Patent

Wilson et al.

(io) Patent No.: US 7,009,506 B2 (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 7,2006

(54) ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICE AND PATCH ASSEMBLY

(75) Inventors: Paul B. Wilson, Tallmadge, OH (US);

John D. Rensel, Tallmadge, OH (US);
Russell W. Koch, Hartville, OH (US)

(73) Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North

American Tire, LLC, Nashville, TN
(US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 543 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/192,567

(22) Filed: Jul. 9, 2002

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2002/0174925 Al Nov. 28, 2002

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/976,076, filed on Oct. 12,2001, now Pat. No. 6,860,303, which is a division of application No. 09/455,977, filed on Dec. 6, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,386,251, which is a continuation of application No. 09/021,518, filed on Feb. 10, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,030,478.

(56)

4,067, 4,488. 4,843. 5,500: 5,781 5,880: 6,025. 6,030: 6,082. 6,191. 6,217: 6,292. 6,360: 6,386. 6,452. 6,486: 6,657. 6,860.

References Cited

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,112 A * 7/1998 Shymko et al 340/10.3

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,478 A * 2/2000 Koch et al 156/123

,192 A 7/2000 Koch et al.

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,542 Bl * 12/2003 Usami 340/572.8

,303 Bl * 3/2005 Rensel et al 152/152.1

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

297 20 612 Ul 3/1998

(Continued)

A monitoring device and patch assembly includes a patch that removably and re-attachably holds the monitoring device. The patch is adapted to connect the monitoring device to a pneumatic tire when the monitoring device is held by the patch. The patch is configured to hold a monitoring device having a rounded outer surface. The patch holds the rounded monitoring device by having a resilient tube with an outlet having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the monitoring device. The monitoring device of the invention includes a feature that allows it to be removed from the patch.

16 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets