IP Library Granted Patent US 11,027,707
Granted Patent B1
US 11,027,707 · App. 15/794,173 · Granted Jun 8, 2021

Tire inflator with inflation timer

Inventors: Lynn Curtis Strong (Auburn, KS); James Kingsbury (Lakewood, CA); Chris Auerbach (San Luis Obispo, CA); Patrick Lee Ohm (Mesa, AZ); Stephen Leveau (Scottsdale, AZ); Michael Williams (Emporia, KS)
Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation
B60S5/046F04F5/48F04F5/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,027,707
App. No.
15/794,173
Granted
Jun 8, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A portable inflation device having a pump, a control device, a user interface, and an inflation indicator. The pump includes an elongated hose with an inflation nozzle. The control device controls operation of the pump and is configured to sense a current pressure of an object, calculate the estimated remaining time to inflate the object to a target pressure, and display the remaining time using the inflation indicator. The user interface is configured to allow a user to enter the target pressure into the control device.

Claims (31)

1. A portable inflation device for inflating an object, the portable inflation device comprising:

an air pump for delivering pressurized air and having

an elongated air hose, and

an inflation nozzle that is configured to connect to the object;

a user interface configured to receive a target pressure and a unit of pressure in which to display a current pressure and the target pressure;

a first inflation indicator configured to display

an estimated remaining time,

the target pressure,

the current pressure of the object,

a field that graphically represents the estimated remaining time, and

the unit of pressure in which the target pressure and the current pressure are displayed;

a second inflation indicator configured to display the estimated remaining time; and

a control device wirelessly coupled to the user interface and the second inflation indicator, the control device configured to

control operation of the air pump, the control device including a sensor that detects the current pressure,

receive, via wireless communication, the target pressure from the user interface,

convert the target pressure and the current pressure to the unit of pressure in which to display the current pressure and the target pressure,

calculate the estimated remaining time until the current pressure is within a predetermined margin of the target pressure,

send the estimated remaining time to the first inflation indicator; and

send, via wireless communication, the estimated remaining time to the second inflation indicator.

2. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the control device couples with a mobile communication device.

3. The portable inflation device of claim 2 , wherein the control device is configured to send, via wireless communication, a notification to the second inflation indicator and the mobile communication device when the current pressure is within the predetermined margin of the target pressure, and wherein the second inflation indicator is configured to display an indication that inflation is complete.

4. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the control device couples with an onboard computer of a vehicle.

5. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to shut off the air pump when the current pressure is within the predetermined margin of the target pressure.

6. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the second inflation indicator further displays the current pressure and the target pressure.

7. The portable inflation device of claim 6 , wherein the second inflation indicator is configured to display the current pressure and target pressure in the selected unit of measurement.

8. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the second inflation indicator includes a field configured to graphically indicate inflation progress.

9. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , further including a power cord for connecting the portable inflation device to a power source, wherein the second inflation indicator is positioned on an end of the cord.

10. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to activate a symbol on the second inflation indicator when the current pressure is within the predetermined margin of the target pressure.

11. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to activate a vibration device on the second inflation indicator when the current pressure is within the predetermined margin of the target pressure.

12. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to activate a sound-making device on the second inflation indicator when the current pressure is within the predetermined margin of the target pressure.

13. The portable inflation device of claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes an RFID reader or a QR code reader configured to read an RFID tag or QR code that has the target pressure for the object embedded thereon.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2026
From: HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: SELAH HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075875/0498 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2017
From: STRONG, LYNN CURTIS; KINGSBURY, JAMES; AUERBACH, CHRIS; OHM, PATRICK LEE; LEVEAU, STEPHEN; WILLIAMS, MICHAEL
To: HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043956/0110 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62413091 · Oct 26, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 12,565,177