BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile engine showing the dipstick guide tube and the dipstick.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the guide tube, dipstick and dipstick wiper.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dipstick wiper in the jaws closed position.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the dipstick wiper in the jaws opened position.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dipstick wiper wiping the dipstick as it is withdrawn.
The invention will be more clearly understood after reference to the following detailed specification in conjunction with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
The reference no. 1, FIG. 1 generally indicates a dipstick wiper which is mounted on a dipstick guide tube 2 and into which a dipstick 3 is inserted. The dipstick 3 measures the oil quantity in crank case sump 5 of an engine 6. When the engine 6 is running, the crank shaft journals throw oil about the inside of the crank case and splatter the oil along the length of the dipstick 3 that is inserted into the crank case. To obtain an accurate reading of the oil in the sump 5, the engine must be turned off so that the fluid level stabilizes and the dipstick 3 removed by withdrawing from the guide tube 2, wiping off, then reinserting to the sump 5 and them withdrawing again so that the oil level can be read at the oil level markings on the bottom end of the dipstick 3.
Referring to FIG. 2, the dipstick 3 includes an upper T shaped handle 8 and a bottom flange 9 which abuts the upper end of the dipstick guide tube 2. The dipstick wiper 1 is mounted to the top of the dipstick guide tube 2 such as by an arm 11 which encircles the end of the guide tube 2 and extends upwardly to mount the operable parts of the wiper 1. In the illustrated example, the wiper operable parts include spaced limbs 13 and 14 that are hingedly connected ad mid points by a hinge pin 15 formed by the upper extension of the arm 11. Limbs 13 and 14 are flat, bar shaped and have outer ends 17 for manipulation, such as by squeezing together with a users finger in the manner of a clothes pin. Spring 18 formed in the manner of a clothes pin spring, FIG. 3, biases the wiper 1 to the closed position, FIG. 3. Manipulation such as by squeezing the outer end 17 together opens the inner ends 20. The inner ends 20, on the limbs of 13 and 14, are preferably fitted with wiping pads 21. These maybe bits of sponge or other absorbent or even non-absorbent wiping type material and may be removed and replaced as by adhesives. They may be a slip over type sleeve pad. At the outer ends 17 of the limbs 13 and 14 there is a retainer 22 to hold the limbs 13 and 14 in a jaws open position, FIG. 4. The retainer 22 may be a wire bale as shown or other means such as a swing arm clip held in position by outward spring pressure of the spring 18 and which falls away as spring pressure is reduced.
As will be appreciated, the purpose of the invention describe above is to enable a user to easily and quickly remove the oil or various fluids from a dipstick in order to obtain an accurate reading with out the use of paper towels, rags, etc. Although shown in connection with an automotive engine, the invention is usable with any fluid sump device including transmissions, stationary engines, fluid tanks or any such device.
The removal of the oil or fluids is achieved by spring loading opening jaws containing oil wiping pads which clean the oil or other fluid off the dipstick as it is withdrawn through the closed wiper. The pads maybe affixed to the clip permanently or manufactured as to be easily removed and replaceable. The retaining latch attached to the wipers allows for easily changing from the wiping position to the checking position. Accordingly in use, the limb ends are squeezed together slightly so as to open the inner jaws and allow it to be withdrawn by its handle from the wiper jaws, the handle flange passing through the jaws and then the wiper can be released so as to permit the fluid wiping pads to engage the surface of the dipstick and wipe fluids therefrom. After the dipstick is withdrawn from the guide tube with the fluids wiped, the retainer 22 is engaged to hold the outer ends together and the inner jaws ends apart. The dipstick is reinserted into the guide tube 2 through the open wiper jaws and the fluid level checked. After visually checking, the dipstick is again inserted into the guide tube 2 until the flange 9 bottoms out against the guide tube 2 and the retainer 22 released so as to allow the jaw ends 20 to grip about the shaft of the handle 8, thereby retaining the dipstick 3 securely in the inserted position relative to the guide tube 2. The invention is by no means pertinent to oil absorbing pads but rather the pads may be oil wiping pads or even blades such as of rubber. As used herein, both pads and blades comprise wiping material for the purpose of wiping oil from the dipstick as it is withdrawn.
The invention has been illustrated and described with respect to the preferred embodiments above identified, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the claims which follow:
Patent Application
20080072445
