Pressure sensing assembly for a bicycle wheel

Abstract

A pressure sensing assembly configured to be attached to a bicycle wheel having a tire and a rim mounted to the tire. The pressure sensing assembly includes a housing, a pressure transmitting member, a sensing chamber defined by the housing and the pressure transmitting member, and a sensing element. The pressure transmitting member is coupled the housing and has a central portion offset from the plane in a first direction. The sensing element is offset from the plane in a second direction opposite the first direction. The pressure transmitting member is configured to transmit a pressure in the tire to the sensing element via the sensing chamber.

1 . A pressure sensing assembly configured to be attached to a bicycle wheel having a tire and a rim mounted to the tire, the pressure sensing assembly comprising:
 a pressure transmitting member;   a sensing chamber defined by the pressure transmitting member;   a housing;   a sensing element located within the housing;   a printed circuit board within the housing; and   a wireless communicator coupled to the printed circuit board within the housing,   wherein the sensing element is fluidly isolated from the sensing chamber, and the housing is attachable to the rim.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure sensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure transmitting member comprises a deflecting member. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure sensing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the deflecting member has a convex outer surface. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure sensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure transmitting member is movable responsive to pressure changes in the tire. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure sensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing element is disposed on the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure sensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communicator is configured to transmit data indicative of the sensed pressure of the tire. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure sensing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board and a light-emitting element coupled to the printed circuit board, the light-emitting element configured to emit light indicative of the sensed pressure of the tire. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure sensing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising incompressible fluid disposed in the sensing chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A bicycle wheel, comprising:
 a rim;   a tire mounted to a tire bed of the rim;   a pressure sensing assembly attachable to the rim, the pressure sensing assembly comprising:   a pressure transmitting member;   a sensing chamber defined by the pressure transmitting member;   a housing;   a sensing element located within the housing;   a printed circuit board within the housing; and   a wireless communicator coupled to the printed circuit board within the housing,   wherein the sensing element is fluidly isolated from the sensing chamber, and the housing is attachable to the rim.   
     
     
         10 . The bicycle wheel of  claim 9 , wherein the sensing chamber is fluidly isolated from an interior of the tire. 
     
     
         11 . The bicycle wheel of  claim 9 , wherein the tire is tubeless. 
     
     
         12 . The bicycle wheel of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure transmitting member has a curved outer surface, and wherein the pressure transmitting member is movable responsive to pressure changes in the tire. 
     
     
         13 . The bicycle wheel of  claim 9 , further comprising a power source coupled to the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         14 . The bicycle wheel of  claim 9 , wherein the wireless communicator is coupled to the printed circuit board and configured to transmit data indicative of the pressure of the tire. 
     
     
         15 . The bicycle wheel of  claim 9 , further comprising a light-emitting element coupled to the printed circuit board, the light-emitting element configured to emit light indicative of the pressure of the tire. 
     
     
         16 . The bicycle wheel of  claim 15 , further comprising a light pipe coupled to the light-emitting element and a lens coupled to the light pipe, wherein the lens extends through an opening formed in the rim, such that light emitted by the light-emitting element is visible.