US4770044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air conditioner test gauge with pressure zone markings
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-03-16
•
Granted: 1988-09-13
•
Expires: 2007-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerant system gas pressure check gauge with a valve head opening having a valve pin and shaped to fit on and over the low pressure suction side valve fitting of a refrigeration system, auto or home, with colored zones and safety markings with worded indications including safety danger warnings. The colored zones and safety markings directly match precise pressure zones on the valve stem.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Ferris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L17/00; G01L7/00; G01L7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A refrigerant system pressure gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting; a housing containing a gauge stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; colored zones on said valve stem, and pressure PSI markings aligned with respective colored zone upper pressure limits on said gauge valve stem to make pressure zone indication more positively and conveniently available with and on the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are provided on the pressure check gauge for respective colored zones; said gauge valve stem is a multi-sided stem; said pressure PSI markings aligned with respective colored zone upper pressure limits and said colored zones are on adjacent sides of said gauge valve stem; worded indications are included within said colored zones; said colored zones are for checking auto air conditioners with successively from lower pressures to higher pressures zones labelled, LO, NORM, HI, DANGER, and HI PRESSURE; said colored zones are respectively, LO in blue, NORM in green, HI in yellow, DANGER in red, and HI PRESSURE in white; and wherein an additional set of colored zones are provided on an additional face of said multi-sided stem for checking home air conditioning; and pressure PSI marking aligned with respective home colored zone upper pressure limits are also included.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
A refrigerant system pressure gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting; a housing containing a gauge stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; colored zones on said valve stem, and pressure PSI markings aligned with respective colored zone upper pressure limits on said gauge valve stem to make pressure zone indication more positively and conveniently available with and on the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are provided on the pressure check gauge for respective colored zones; said gauge valve stem is a multi-sided stem; said pressure PSI markings aligned with respective colored zone upper pressure limits and said colored zones are on adjacent sides of said gauge valve stem; worded indications are included within said colored zones; said colored zones are for checking auto air conditioners with successively from lower pressures to higher pressures zones labelled, LO, NORM, HI, DANGER, and HI PRESSURE; said colored zones are respectively, LO in blue, NORM in green, HI in yellow, DANGER in red, and HI PRESSURE in white; and wherein an additional set of colored zones are provided on an additional face of said multi-sided stem for checking home air conditioning; and pressure PSI marking aligned with respective home colored zone upper pressure limits are also included.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 1, wherein said pressure PSI markings aligned with respective colored zone upper pressure limits are coexistent therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 1, wherein said home air conditioner checking colored zones are labelled successively from lower pressures, LO, NORM and HI.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 3, wherein said home colored zones are respectively, LO in blue, NORM in green, HI in yellow and then a top zone in red.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 4, wherein the colored zones for home and auto pressure checking have different pressure PSI limits one from the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 1, wherein a straight PSI indicator stem face is provided on a side of said multi-sided stem for use of the gauge as a tire pressure checking gauge in addition to use as an air conditioner pressure gauge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 1, wherein said gauge valve stem is a rectangular four-sided stem.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
177 words
A refrigerant system pressure check gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting; a housing containing a gauge valve stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; colored zones on said valve stem; and pressure PSI markings aligned with respective colored zone upper pressure limits on said gauge valve stem to make pressure zone indication more positively and conveniently available with and on the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are provided on the pressure check gauge for respective colored zones; said gauge valve stem is a multi-sided stem; and wherein a color coded printing is provided on said housing with colors matching zone colors on said valve stem along the PSI markings; and with LOW, NORM, HI and DANGER indicated on respective color zones of the color coded printed on the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
177 words
A refrigerant system pressure check gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting; a housing containing a gauge valve stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; colored zones on said valve stem; and pressure PSI markings aligned with respective colored zone upper pressure limits on said gauge valve stem to make pressure zone indication more positively and conveniently available with and on the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are provided on the pressure check gauge for respective colored zones; said gauge valve stem is a multi-sided stem; and wherein a color coded printing is provided on said housing with colors matching zone colors on said valve stem along the PSI markings; and with LOW, NORM, HI and DANGER indicated on respective color zones of the color coded printed on the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 8, wherein said color coded printing and the color zones on the valve stem are for home air conditioners with the color coded printing and zone limit PSI markings extended along the housing body of the gauge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 8, wherein said color coded printing and the color zones on the valve stem are for home air conditioners with the color coded printing and zone limit PSI markings wrapped around the housing body of the gauge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 8, wherein a zone HI PRESSURE is also indicated with said color coded printing and the color zones on the valve stem are for auto air conditioners with the color coded printing and zone limit PSI markings extended along the housing body of the gauge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The refrigerant system pressure check gauge of claim 8, wherein a zone HI PRESSURE is also indicated with said color coded printing and the color zones on the valve stem are for auto air conditioners with the color coded printing and zone limit PSI markings wrapped around the housing body of the gauge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
158 words
A refrigerant system pressure check gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting; a housing containing a gauge valve stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; and pressure PSI markings on said gauge stem to make pressure zone indication more positively and conveniently available with and on the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are provided on the pressure check gauge for respective zone limit PSI markings; said gauge valve stem is a multi-sided stem; and wherein a color coded printing is provided on said housing with colors matching zone limit PSI markings; and with LOW, NORM, HI and DANGER indicated on respective color zones of the color coded printing on the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
158 words
A refrigerant system pressure check gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting; a housing containing a gauge valve stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; and pressure PSI markings on said gauge stem to make pressure zone indication more positively and conveniently available with and on the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are provided on the pressure check gauge for respective zone limit PSI markings; said gauge valve stem is a multi-sided stem; and wherein a color coded printing is provided on said housing with colors matching zone limit PSI markings; and with LOW, NORM, HI and DANGER indicated on respective color zones of the color coded printing on the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
155 words
A refrigerant system pressure check gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting: a housing containing a gauge valve stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; and pressure PSI markings on said gauge stem to make pressure zone indication more positively and conveniently available with and on the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are provided on the pressure check gauge for respective zone limit PSI markings; said gauge valve stem is a multi-sided stem; and wherein a coded printing is supported on said housing with matching zone limit PSI markings; and with LOW, NORM, HI and DANGER indicated on respective zones of the coded printing supported on the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
155 words
A refrigerant system pressure check gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting: a housing containing a gauge valve stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; and pressure PSI markings on said gauge stem to make pressure zone indication more positively and conveniently available with and on the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are provided on the pressure check gauge for respective zone limit PSI markings; said gauge valve stem is a multi-sided stem; and wherein a coded printing is supported on said housing with matching zone limit PSI markings; and with LOW, NORM, HI and DANGER indicated on respective zones of the coded printing supported on the housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
152 words
A refrigerant system pressure check gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting; a housing containing a gauge valve stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; and pressure PSI markings supported on said gauge to make pressue zone indication more positively and conveniently available with the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are supported on the pressure check gauge for respective zone limit PSI markings; said gauge valve stem is a multi-indication stem; and wherein a coded printing is supported on said housing with zone limit PSI markings; and with LOW, NORM, HI and DANGER indicated on respective zones of the coded printing supported on the housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
A refrigerant system pressure check gauge comprising: a pressure check gauge with a valve head having a valve head opening that fits on and over a refrigeration system valve fitting; a housing containing a gauge valve stem subject to being driven outward from a retracted state to various degrees of distance up to a fully extended state dependent on the gas pressure being measured by the check valve; and pressure PSI markings supported on said gauge to make pressue zone indication more positively and conveniently available with the gauge itself; wherein worded indications including safety danger warnings are supported on the pressure check gauge for respective zone limit PSI markings; said gauge valve stem is a multi-indication stem; and wherein a coded printing is supported on said housing with zone limit PSI markings; and with LOW, NORM, HI and DANGER indicated on respective zones of the coded printing supported on the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-13 | 1992-03-14 | 1992-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-13 | 1996-03-14 | 1996-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-13 | 2000-03-14 | 2000-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |