Lear Corporation

United Technologies Automotive Inc.

Ut Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Schrader Electronics Limited

Michael A Uleski

Robert M Schmidt

Mark G Feldman

Lawrence W Hamm

John S Nantz

Yi Luo

Robert A Stewart

Keith E Mattson

Thomas J Allard

Norman J Becker

Mike Barlow

William K Cotton

Rex B Belden

Mark A Peterson

A snap-in tire pressure monitoring system having a valve that deforms to form an annular sealing surface around an opening in a tire rim. A sensor housing having electronics components configured to sense conditions within the tire may be attached to the valve. Data collected by the components may be wireless transmitted for further processing.

Snap-in tire valve

A tire pressure monitor system is provided including a sensor housing forming an internal housing mount chamber. An air inlet port is formed on a housing side surface and is orientated parallel to the wheel rim rotational axis. A sensor assembly including an air pressure sensor element is mounted within the internal housing mount chamber. A filter element and a gasket element are positioned between the air pressure sensor element and the air inlet port. A potting material fills the internal housing mount chamber. The filter element and the gasket element creating an air pressure flow path from the air inlet port to the air pressure sensor element.

Tire pressure monitor system with side entry pressure port

A light emitting panel having first and second panels that are constructed of a generally transparent material and that are connected such that the second panel is angularly positioned relative to the first panel. The first panel has first and second opposing surface, wherein at least a portion of the surfaces have a reflective material disposed thereon and an aperture through the reflective material is positioned on the first surface. A light source is associated with the second panel and a contact-less switch sensor is positioned at the second surface.

Graphic back-lighting for panel with contact-less switch sensors

The present invention includes a snap-in grommet provided for use in a valve stem assembly. The grommet includes a body consisting of a nose section at the body first end, the nose section having a substantially conical shape to provide for insertion of the body into an inflation hole of a wheel rim. The body further contains an annular section at a base of the nose section, the annular section projecting radially from the base of the nose section and a cylindrical section sized to match the inflation hole and having a first end adjoined to the annular section. A flange section projects radially from a cylindrical section second end, and an axial bore passes centrally through the body. A sleeve is located within the grommet body bore, the sleeve having an outer surface configured to match the body bore and having a bore configured to receive a valve stem.

Snap-in grommet for a valve steam assembly

The present invention includes a grommet and valve stem assembly. The assembly includes a grommet having a body, a nose section at a grommet first end, a cylindrical section having a first end adjoined to the nose section and a second end from which a flange section projects radially. The flange section has a substantially flat surface opposite to the cylindrical section. At least one interface seal is formed on the flat surface as a hemispherical projection located concentrically about a grommet center axis. An axial bore passes centrally through the body, and a valve stem is configured for insertion through the grommet bore. The valve stem includes a threaded portion configured to receive a retaining nut and a flange having a substantially flat surface configured to form at least one sealing interface with the at least one interface seal when the nut is tightened to the valve stem.

Snap-in grommet for a valve stem assembly

A key fob assembly comprises an electronic circuit comprising a substrate carrying a plurality of switching elements and a display element. A rear casing member having a first outer rim and receives the electronic circuit. A front casing member has a second outer rim, a plurality of button apertures, and a display window. The button apertures are substantially aligned with the plurality of switching elements and the display window is substantially aligned with the display element. A lens is contained within the display window providing a protective layer over the display element. An elastomeric seal member is provided having an outer periphery captured between the first and second outer rims and having a display aperture defined by an edge wherein the edge is captured between the display element and at least one of the front casing member and the lens. The elastomeric seal member includes a plurality of pedestals aligned with respective ones of the button apertures. A plurality of substantially rigid button caps are each cohered to a respective one of the pedestals and project into a respective one of the button apertures, whereby a button cap can be depressed toward the substrate to actuate a respective one of the switching elements.

Wireless key fob for vehicles

In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a tire pressure monitor system located within the interior of a tire. The system comprises a housing having a wall forming a cavity and an interior wall forming an opening in fluid communication with the cavity, a tire pressure sensor located within the housing cavity, and a pressure cap inserted into the housing opening. The tire pressure sensor has an orifice for helping to sense tire pressure. The pressure cap comprises a wall having a portion that contacts the sensor and extends around the sensor orifice.

Tire pressure sensing component for detecting air pressure and related method

A tire monitoring assembly is used with a wheel and tire assembly having a wheel rim, with the wheel rim including a mounting hole. The tire monitoring assembly includes a sealing grommet having an inner sealing ring, an outer sealing ring, and a main body extending between the inner sealing ring and the outer sealing ring, with the inner sealing ring being pressed through the mounting hole. The assembly also includes a fastener having a head and a shank extending from the head, with the shank extending through a fastener hole in the sealing grommet. A mounting member has a fastener through hole that receives the shank therethrough, a generally semi-spherical surface extending about a first end of the fastener through hole, and a recess extending about a second end of the fastener through hole that receives the inner sealing ring. Also, the assembly includes a housing having a semi-spherical recess in surface contact with and slidable relative to the semi-spherical surface, a slotted fastener hole located within and extending through the semi-spherical recess and having the shank extending therethrough, and feet that maintain contact with the wheel rim. A nut engages the threads of the shank and a curved surface on the housing to thereby secure the housing and semi-spherical mounting member to the fastener, while allowing for limited pivoting of the housing relative to the mounting member to allow for use on various wheel designs.

Adjustable mounting of tire monitoring assembly

A tire pressure monitoring apparatus, for mounting on a vehicle wheel that is configured to have a tire mounted thereon and that has a first opening, includes a tire monitor for sensing pressure in the tire. The tire monitor includes a housing having a spherical surface and a second opening that extends through the spherical surface. A tire valve stem is configured to extend through the first and second openings, and the valve stem has a threaded portion. The apparatus further includes a threaded fastener that is engageable with the threaded portion of the valve stem for attaching together the tire monitor and the valve stem. The fastener has a spherical surface that is engageable with the spherical surface of the housing when the fastener is engaged with the threaded portion of the valve stem.

Attachment mechanism for a tire monitoring system

A tire monitoring assembly is advantageously employed with a wheel and tire assembly having a wheel rim, with the wheel rim including a mounting hole having an anti-rotation feature. The tire monitoring assembly may include a mounting stud having a head and a shank extending from the head, with the head including a flange portion and an anti-rotation portion adapted to operatively engage the anti-rotation feature of the wheel rim, and with the shank including a threaded end spaced from the head. A grommet may be made of an elastomeric material and have an inner sealing portion, an outer sealing portion, spaced from the inner sealing portion, and a main body extending between the inner sealing portion and the outer sealing portion and adapted to be located in the mounting hole, with the outer sealing portion enclosing the flange portion. An assembly housing includes a stud hole for receiving the shank therethrough and a mount adapted for maintaining contact with the wheel rim, and a retainer is employed for engaging a portion of the shank extending through the stud hole to thereby secure the assembly housing to the stud.

Sealed mounting of tire monitoring assembly

A control panel assembly includes a housing having a recess formed therein. A panel is movably attached to said the housing. A control mechanism is mounted on the panel. The panel is movable between a first position in which the panel generally covers the recess, and a second position in which the recess is exposed. The panel is releasably locked in the first position by a latch mechanism.

Control panel for a vehicle

This invention relates to a control panel for a vehicle interior. The control panel includes a housing defining a recess formed therein. A panel is pivotally attached to the housing at a pivot axis. The panel has at least one control mechanism mounted thereon. The panel is movable between a first position, wherein the panel generally covers a portion of the recess, and a second position wherein the panel generally exposes the recess. The control panel further including one of a detent mechanism attached to the housing and the panel for biasing the panel in one of the first and second positions, a spring mechanism attached to the housing and the panel for biasing the panel towards one of the first and second positions, and a damper mechanism to dampen the motion of the panel during movement of the panel between the first and second positions.

This invention relates to a control panel for a vehicle interior. The control panel includes a housing defining a recess formed therein. A panel is movably attached to the housing, such as by a pivot. The panel has at least one control mechanism mounted thereon. The panel is movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the panel generally covers at least a portion of the recess. In the second position, the panel generally exposes the recess. Preferably, the housing defines a first surface within the recess, and a second control mechanism is mounted on the first surface.

A selector switch using a digital encoder for controlling multiple functions of a vehicle accessory. A rotary switch having a body portion and a shaft is provided. The shaft has a rotary axis and terminates at a distal end that is received by a knob. A carrier is provided on the shaft in conjunction with the knob and has at least one spring and ball for engaging a detent formed in a face plate of the selector switch assembly. The face plate has a plurality of circumferentially arranged detents that are engaged by the ball to provide intermediate position stops for the knob. The face plate and knob cooperate to provide end stops for limiting arcuate movement of the knob. Redundant detents and end stops may be provided for durability and improved operation. The selector switch may be used to control headlights and parking lights for a vehicle and may provide either instantaneous control or delayed turn-off of headlights, depending upon the digital output of the encoder at a preselected detent location.

Carrier and knob stop encoder assembly

A switch assembly is adapted for insertion into an aperture formed in an instrument panel. The aperture has opposing edges. The switch assembly includes a body insertable into the aperture and having opposing sides. A base is connected to the body and includes integrally molded first and second retention arms extending therefrom. Each arm has a first end connected to the base and a second end configured to abut against a respective one of the opposing edges to retain the body in the aperture. Each arm has an upstanding rib between the first and second ends facing the respective opposing side of the body. Each rib extends sufficiently from the respective arm to abut the respective opposing side of the body when the second end of the arm abuts the respective opposing edge, thereby increasing the force required to remove the body from the aperture by forming a fulcrum between the first and second ends of the arms. A rotary potentiometer is housed within the body, and a control knob is engaged with the rotary potentiometer. The control knob has first and second integrally molded radial stopper edges. First and second stop portions are integrally molded with the body and engageable with the first and second stopper edges, respectively, for limiting rotary travel of the potentiometer.

Growing community of inventors

Roseville, MI, United States of America

Michael A Uleski