Wheel fastener alarm
A wheel fastener alarm is provided with a fastener body, a cap covering the fastener body, a sensor array disposed within the fastener body, and a cover disposed over an opening in the fastener body and a hole in the cap.
1. A wheel fastener alarm comprising:
a nut body comprising a cavity extending longitudinally through the nut body and comprising an internal thread along at least a bottom portion of the cavity;
a cap disposed around a top portion of the nut body and secured to the nut body, wherein the cap has an opening in the end of the cap, the opening disposed over the cavity;
a non-metallic cover disposed over the opening; and
a sensor array disposed within the cavity, the sensor array comprising:
a sensor configured to detect an attribute of a wheel stud within the nut body and generate output information,
a processor configured to generate a signal based on the output information,
a transmitter configured to send the signal to a remote location, and
a power supply configured to provide power to the sensor array,
wherein the wheel fastener alarm is configured to automatically engage after a vehicle associated with the wheel fastener alarm is stationary for a predetermined time period.
2. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the attribute is information to detect an alarm condition, wherein the information is at least one of wheel stud location information, acceleration information, magnetic field information, shock information, vibration information, or temperature information.
3. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the sensor array further comprises a shock sensor, wherein the shock sensor is configured to detect when the wheel fastener alarm is being removed from a wheel stud.
4. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 3 , wherein the shock sensor is a ball bearing switch.
5. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an inductive wheel stud sensor.
6. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 5 , wherein the wheel stud sensor is configured to detect a wheel stud within the wheel nut over a range of approximately 1-4.5 mm.
7. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the sensor array further comprises an accelerometer that is configured to detect a change in position of the nut body.
8. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the wheel fastener alarm is attached to the vehicle.
9. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic cover is comprised of a polymer that is a color distinct from a color of the remainder of the wheel fastener alarm.
10. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the remote location is an alarm system located in a vehicle to which the wheel fastener is attached.
11. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the sensor array further comprises a geomagnetic sensor, wherein the geomagnetic sensor is configured to detect a change in a magnetic field around the nut body.
12. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 5 , wherein the wheel fastener alarm is configured to detect if the nut body is loosening from a wheel stud by determining that a distance between the wheel stud and the wheel stud sensor is increasing over time.
13. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , wherein the power supply is configured to provide adequate power to allow the sensor, processor, and transmitter to operate for approximately 10 years.
14. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , further comprising a low frequency receiver configured to activate the wheel fastener alarm upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle tire pressure management indicating that a vehicle keyfob is near the vehicle.
15. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 10 , wherein the wheel fastener alarm cannot be disarmed, wherein the wheel fastener alarm will only activate the alarm system when the alarm system is armed.
16. The wheel fastener alarm of claim 1 , further comprising a plastic housing, wherein the plastic housing is disposed within the cavity and the sensor array is disposed within the plastic housing.
17. A wheel fastener alarm comprising:
a nut body comprising a cavity extending longitudinally through the nut body and comprising an internal thread along at least a bottom portion of the cavity;
a cap disposed around a top portion of the nut body and secured to the nut body, wherein the cap has an opening in the end of the cap, the opening disposed over the cavity;
a non-metallic cover disposed over the opening; and
a sensor array disposed within the cavity, the sensor array comprising:
a sensor configured to detect an attribute of a wheel stud within the nut body and generate output information,
a processor configured to generate a signal based on the output information,
a transmitter configured to send the signal to a remote location, and
a power supply configured to provide power to the sensor array; and
a low frequency receiver configured to activate the wheel fastener alarm upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle tire pressure management indicating that a vehicle keyfob is near the vehicle.