Claims
- 1. A fluid measuring apparatus for an engine or a transmission reservoir comprising:
a shaft comprising first and second ends wherein the first end of the shaft comprises a fluid level indicator wherein said shaft defines an enlarged area, a tube comprising a first end comprising a coupler with an open end and wherein said coupler has at least one lug, and a second end that is associated with the reservoir wherein at least one protuberance define in said tube is dimensioned to engage the enlarged area of said shaft, a handle connected to the second end of the shaft and comprising at least one slot that comprises an axial portion and a transverse portion, wherein one end of said at least one slot is open and engages said at least one lug and a terminal end of said at least one slot comprises a locking seat that engages said lug when in a locked position, and; a seal positioned in the base of the handle such that the seal is compressed against an axial end of the coupler when in the locked position.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the shaft comprises wire strand.
- 3. The apparatus of claims 1 wherein the handle includes a gripping portion comprising a pair of knobs extending outwardly from an area of reduced diameter.
- 4 A fluid measuring apparatus for an engine or a transmission reservoir comprising:
a shaft comprising first and second ends wherein the first end of the shaft comprises a fluid level indicator and defining a member having a cross-sectional diameter that is larger than the shaft, a tube comprising a first end comprising a coupler with an open end having an axial end and wherein said coupler has at least one lug, and a second end that is associated with the reservoir wherein at least a portion of the tube has a diameter than is small than said cross-sectional diameter, a handle connected to the second end of the shaft and comprising at least one slot that comprises an axial portion and a transverse portion, wherein a first end of said at least one slot is open and engages said at least one lug and the slot terminates at a second end that defines a locking seat such that said lug enters the first end of the slot and travels along the slot until becoming engaged in a locked position in the locking seat, and; a gasket positioned in the base of the handle such that the gasket is compressed against the axial end of the coupler when said lug is in the locked position.
- 5. An engine or a transmission reservoir fluid level measuring apparatus comprising:
a shaft comprising first and second ends wherein the first end of the shaft comprises a fluid level indicator or is connected to an indicator blade, a tube having at least one lug and defining at least one protuberance for contacting a portion of the shaft, a handle connected to the second end of the shaft and comprising at least one curvilinear slot, wherein an open portion of the slot is open in order to receive said at least one lug and the slot terminates in a locking seat, and; a seal located in a cavity defined in the base of the handle such that the seal is compressible between the handle and an end face of the coupler when the at least one lug and at least one slot are in the locked position and urges the handle into the locked position.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said at least one lugs are outwardly extending and said at least one slot extends entirely through a side wall of the handle.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said seal is capable of maintaining at least one atmosphere.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus comprises a fluid level indicator for a transmission and the seal permits venting.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said shaft comprises at least one wire.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said at least one lugs are inwardly extending.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the seal is located in a cavity defined in the base of the handle.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a second end of said tube is associated with a fitting for engaging a fluid reservoir.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said shaft is associated with the handle by at least one of joining, bonding, molding and gluing.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said shaft is rotatable relative to said handle.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the shaft defines at least one enlarged area for engaging the protuberance.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein engaging the protuberance causes the shaft to be compressed.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the protuberance comprises an inwardly extending detent.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the portion of the shaft that contacts the protuberance comprises an attachment having an outer diameter greater than the interior diameter of the tube adjacent to the protuberance.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the protuberance comprises a member that is connected to the tube.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the attachment comprises a bulb that that surrounds a connection between the shaft and an fluid level indicator blade.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This Application claims benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/435,642, filed on Dec. 20, 2002. The disclosure of the provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60435642 |
Dec 2002 |
US |