Patent Application
20060185763
This invention relates to the field of automotive components. More specifically the invention relates to an oil filler cap with integrated funnel.
Engine oil is a very necessary element for the proper operation and lubrication of an automobile engine. Thus, each automobile has a means or an access opening through which an operator may replenish the engine oil when it falls below a certain level. The means (or orifice) is referred to herein as the oil filler access or opening.
Most commonly, the oil filler opening is provided directly to an interior portion of the engine, though the opening may also be provided to an oil reservoir or other container/flow path which leads to the engine. When the oil filler opening leads directly to the interior of the engine, the oil filler access or opening is usually located at a top portion of the engine, such as at or near the top of the engine block or an associated component of the engine, such as a valve cover, and a removable cap is used to provide a pressure seal during normal engine operation. The removable cap also prevents oil from splashing all over the engine compartment when the engine is running.
In most cases, the configuration of the removable cap is dependent on the automobile engine manufacturer and design. Thus, there could exist almost as many different oil filler caps as there are different makes of automobile engines.
As indicated, because lubricating oil is such a basic necessity for operation of an automobile engine, it is necessary for operators to be capable of easily checking and replenishing the engine oil. Engine oil may be depleted in various ways, including evaporation and burning along with fuel during engine operation. When engine oil levels are too low, insufficient lubrication of moving parts occurs, which may lead to severe engine damage. Thus, most automobile manufacturers ensure that the oil filler access or opening is conveniently located for ease of determination of engine oil level and replenishment as necessary. The configurations are such that most drivers are capable of checking the engine oil of their automobile and topping off the oil when it falls below a recommended level.
Thus, most manufacturers recommend that drivers check their oil level regularly, such as each time they refuel their vehicle, i.e., at the gas (petrol) station. The procedure usually requires checking the engine oil level with a dipstick and if the level is below the manufacturer's recommended level, removing the oil filler cap and topping off the oil back to the manufacturer's recommended level. And finally, replacing the oil filler cap. Unfortunately, due to absentmindedness or some distraction (e.g. cell phones), some operators forget to replace the oil filler cap after replenishing the engine oil. Therefore, as they drive away from the gas station, the oil filler cap falls off and is lost.
The operator or owner of the vehicle is then forced to purchase a replacement oil filler cap. These filler caps may be very expensive especially depending on the make and manufacture of the vehicle. For instance, the owner of a Mercedes Benz automobile may pay several times more for an oil filler cap than the owner of a Hyundai automobile.
Another significant problem associated with replenishing engine oil is spillage. Engine oil is commonly changed every 3,000 miles, or two months, requiring the addition of fresh oil, typically five quarts, one at a time. Compared with simply checking the oil level and topping off, replacing the oil with five one-quart containers provides five times the opportunity for spillage if no funnel is used.
Lubricating oil is commonly provided in quart-sized containers having an opening through which the oil may be dispensed. This requires the user to invert the container in order to pour or dispense the oil from the container into the oil filler access opening. In this process, it is very common for oil from the container to spill on the engine block or other components of the engine, such as the exhaust manifold, depending on the design of the engine.
The spilled oil may simply become a magnet for dusts thus resulting in the engine compartment becoming unsightly. The spilled oil may damage sensitive components, such as electronic components. The spilled oil may also create a hazard. For example, oil that spills on the exhaust manifold may burn when the engine compartment heats up thus creating unwanted smoke and odor in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Therefore, to prevent oil spill, some owners and mechanics use an external funnel to direct oil into the oil filler access opening. The funnel is generally a separate device that is not part of the automobile, and thus is stored externally, e.g., in the garage.
Therefore, a need exists for a more convenient and effective means for replenishing engine oil, including addressing problems such as those described above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an oil filler access or opening closure member and a means for directing or routing oil into such an opening. In one embodiment, there is provided an oil filler access opening cap apparatus with an integrated, oil-directing funnel.
Thus, one or more embodiments of the present invention provide an inexpensive oil filler replacement cap with an integrated collapsible funnel. The oil filler replacement cap is configurable to fit many automobile makes and models. The integrated collapsible funnel is extendible to a fully open position wherein it is usable as a funnel to facilitate replenishment of engine oil and to prevent spillage onto the engine block and vicinity. In the fully open position, the collapsible funnel is configured to direct oil from a container into the oil filler access or opening. In one embodiment, the inside bottom of the funnel cap is configured to hold an “outlet” of a standard quart container of engine oil. The car owner does not have to hold the quart container and wait for it to drain. He or she can set the quart container into the collapsible funnel such that the container outlet engages the oil filler cap, and then he or she can step away. Once the standard quart container of engine oil is placed on the collapsible funnel in the fully open position, the collapsible funnel may then collapse to its resting position while passing engine oil from the standard quart container to the oil filler access or opening without spillage.
The oil filler replacement cap includes a top cover. In an embodiment, the top cover is common to all automobile models. Some embodiments may be configured such that the top cover may be the only part removed during oil replenishment, though other embodiments may be configured such that other portions of the oil cap may also be removed during oil replenishment. Thus, if the top cover is lost, it can easily be replaced for fractions less than the original oil filler replacement cap from the original equipment manufacturer.
Other embodiments of the present invention may be used for other fluid compartments such as transmission, power steering, etc.
The invention discloses an oil filler access opening closure member. The invention also discloses means for directing or routing oil to an oil filler access or opening. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.
In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an oil filler access or opening closure member. In one embodiment, the closure member is a replacement cap configurable to fit several automobile makes and models. An embodiment of the oil filler replacement cap is illustrated in
As indicated, one embodiment of the invention is a means for routing or directing engine oil to an oil filler access or opening. In one embodiment of the invention, this means is provided in combination with an oil filler access or opening closure member or cap, such as described above. One embodiment of the invention is thus an oil access or opening filler cap with integrated funnel. An embodiment of the filler cap with integrated funnel of the present invention will now be described in detail with respect to an automobile engine.
It is noted that the embodiments of the invention have utility with other than automobile engines and for directing other than engine oil. For example, the filler cap and integrated funnel may be utilized to close the oil filler access or opening of engines other than those used to power automobiles, such as those used to power trucks, trains, planes and the like. The filler cap and integrated funnel may also be used in other environments where a fluid access opening is provided. These environments include, but are not limited to, equipment such as engines and pumps including access openings for fluids such as transmission oil, hydraulic oil, brake fluid and coolant, among others.
The oil filler cap assembly of the present invention is illustrated in
In one embodiment, the replacement oil filler cap assembly 400 of the present invention only needs to be installed or connected to an access opening, such as the oil filler access or opening of a vehicle, once. Thereafter, top cover 640 may be the only part removed during oil replenishment, though other embodiments may be configured such that other portions of the oil cap may also be removed during oil replenishment. This provides a significant cost savings advantage over prior art engine oil filler access or opening caps because in most, if not all, embodiments, top cover 640 is the same for all automobiles and thus would be significantly cheaper to replace, if lost, than the original equipment manufacturer oil filler cap. This is because top cover 640 may be manufactured for literally pennies, for instance, and is universal in construction and not specific to a particular manufacturer's engine design.
In one embodiment, the collapsible funnel portion of the cap assembly 400 comprises a plurality of nesting rings which may be moved between a collapsed condition and an extended condition.
In this embodiment, the collapsible funnel 630 comprises an outer ring member 660 and a plurality of circular ring members 601 through 606. The outer ring member is illustrated in
Thus, in one or more embodiments, the outside surface of the lower section 740 starts linearly at the bottom face 720, becomes curvilinear towards the top of the section (i.e. 740), and then joins the outer surface of top section 750. Top section 750 may have a fixed outside diameter throughout its entire length 704. The outside surface of top section 750 may be smooth to differentiate it and provide tactile feel that is different from that of the top cover 640 and fixed funnel 620.
The diameter of inner surface 730 of outer ring 660 may increase from the fixed dimension 705 at the bottom portion 720 to a fixed dimension 701 at the top portion 710. The change in dimension from bottom to top may be linear or curvilinear, as desired. Thus, in one or more embodiments, the dimension 701 is greater than the dimension 705.
The total height of outer ring 660 is represented by dimension 703. The height of section 740 may be limited by the available storage space within fixed funnel 620, i.e., between the inner side wall of the cone of the fixed funnel and the top of the fixed funnel.
Sample dimensions for an embodiment of outer ring 660 of the present invention are provided in the table below. The outer ring member 660 may be movably coupled to a plurality of circular ring members which is illustrated in
This is further illustrated in the table below. For instance, in the configuration of
For each circular ring member, the distance between the top portion 810 and the bottom portion 820 of each ring member is the height 803 of the circular ring member. The height of each ring member is dependent on its relative location in the collapsible funnel, on the angle of the inner surface of the fixed funnel section 940 (see
The diameter of the top and bottom portions of each ring member also depends on its relative position in the collapsible funnel and the desired cone size of the collapsible funnel. For instance, the inner diameter of the top portion 804 may be greater than the inner diameter of the bottom portion 801 if the rings are to snap in place when extended. Also, the outer diameter of the top portion 805 may be greater than the outer diameter of the lower portion 802 to create a funnel effect. Thus the diameter of each circular ring increases from the bottom portion to the top portion. The change in diameter from the bottom portion 820 to the top portion 810 could be linear or curvilinear, for instance, depending on the desired look of the collapsible funnel.
The collapsible funnel may be created by assembling the circular ring members 601 through 606 with the outer ring member 660. The assembly process may comprise the process of dropping the largest circular ring member, e.g. 606, into the outer ring member 660 to create a partial assembly. Circular ring member 606 will not fall through since the outer diameter of its top portion 805 is greater than the inner diameter of the lower portion 705 of outer ring member 660.
The assembly process continues with the next largest circular ring member, e.g. 605, of the remaining circular ring members being dropped into the partial assembly. Followed by the next largest, and so on, until all the circular ring members are in place in the collapsible funnel.
Thus, configuring inner diameter 801 of the bottom portion of an upper ring member (e.g. 606) to be slightly less than outer diameter 805 of the top portion of a lower ring member (e.g. 605) assures that all the rings of the collapsible funnel lock in place at full extension thus creating a funnel. An example configuration of the dimensions in inches of the circular ring members is presented in the table below.
In the above table illustration, the difference between the outer top diameter of a lower ring member and the inner bottom diameter of a directly adjacent upper ring member is fixed at 0.024 inches. For example, the pair of rings 601 and 602 have a fixed difference of 0.024 (i.e., 1.844-1.820) inches; pair of rings 602 and 603 also have a fixed difference of 0.024 (i.e., 2.013-1.989) inches; and so on. Note that this fixed difference is for illustrative purposes only and does not in any way limit the scope of the invention or signify that such fixed value is used for all embodiments of the present invention. Thus, those of skill in the art would appreciate that the difference between the outer top diameter of a lower ring member and the inner bottom diameter of an upper ring member of adjacent ring pairs may vary for each ring pair of the plurality of rings in the collapsible funnel.
As illustrated in
The inner fixed ring 680 may also be configured with a lip 811 on its upper rim to engage a corresponding groove 812 in the innermost collapsible funnel ring (e.g., 601). Similarly, outermost ring 660 may include an annular groove 812 to receive the lip 811 of funnel ring 606.
The lip and groove combination provides a tactile mechanism for interlocking the individual funnel rings together in the extended position, as shown in
In one alternate embodiment, the lip is formed on the inside of the lower rim of each funnel ring, and is configured to engage an annular groove near the top of the outer surface of the nearest inner neighboring ring. In another alternate embodiment, the funnel rings may be configured with outward projecting upper lips and inward projecting lower lips configured to engage each other at full extension. In yet another embodiment, the annular groove may be replaced with an annular ridge on the surface of the ring. The decreasing inner diameter of the outer ring (or a second annular ridge) prevent overextension, whereas the compression fit of the lip over the annular ridge resists collapse of the funnel structure. An annular ridge (or multiple protrusions arranged in a ring) may, in some embodiments, be used as a substitute for the lip structure 811.
Referring back to
As illustrated,
The fixed funnel assembly 620 illustrated herein comprises mounting column 910 with inner surface 901 and outer surface 902; at least one drainage hole 920; side wall 940; grip surface 930; and gasket 674.
As illustrated in
Mounting column 910 may be configured as a cylindrical member having an inside surface 901 and an outside surface 902. An embodiment of inside surface 901 may be configured with threads for locking top cover 640 in place. Outside surface 902 may be configured to provide snap-fit lock with inner ring member 680, when installed.
The one or more drainage holes 920 between side wall 940 and mounting column 910 provide means for oil leaking through the side walls of the collapsible funnel to drain through to the engine. Thus, the drainage holes 920 are configured with one or more tunnels feeding back into oil fill opening hole 950.
Fixed funnel 620 may be coupled with collapsible funnel 630 via inner ring member 680.
The outside diameter of side wall 1040 may be configured to provide fit with the lowest circular ring member (e.g. 601) of the collapsible funnel assembly 630. For instance, the outside diameter of the inner ring member may be variable, e.g., increasing from a lower value to the bottom section 1020 to a larger value to the top section 1010. Thus, the configuration of the outer surface of wall 1040 may be similar to that of the circular ring member described in
The fixed funnel and collapsible funnel may be assembled together by a simple process of dropping the inner ring member 680 into the lowest circular ring member (e.g. 601) of the collapsible funnel assembly. Inner ring member 680 will not fall through since the outer diameter of its top portion 1002 is greater than the inner diameter of the lower portion 801 of lower ring member 601.
Subsequently, the inner ring member and collapsible funnel assembly may be coupled to fixed funnel 620 via mounting column 910.
Inner ring member 680 may be mounted over the outer surface 902 of mounting column 910 and the two members (inner ring 680 and mounting column 910) may be fixably coupled together using a process such as sonic welding, glue, etc. Of course, the selected coupling method may depend on the type of material(s) used for the oil filler cap of the present invention. For instance, example materials may include suitable type of GF (Glass Filled) Nylon, carbon, fiber glass, combinations of metallic and non-metallic materials, etc. In any case, it may be desirable that the heat conduction characteristics of the material used be minimal for several reasons, e.g., to allow ease of removal of top cover 640 after the engine becomes hot, to minimize expansion of the oil filler cap under temperature, etc.
On the bottom side 970 of the fixed funnel assembly is coupled a suitable adapter 610. The available embodiments of adapter 610 may be as many as there are automobile filler cap configurations in production. The adapter essentially fits in the same oil filler access opening 101 and provides the same positive pressure lock as the original oil filler cap from the vehicle manufacturer. For instance, the adapter may be a cam type, a thread type, etc. A typical adapter configuration is the molded bulb configuration illustrated in
As illustrated, the adapter may be configured to plug into the bottom section 970 of fixed funnel 620. Top section 1110 of adapter may be fixably coupled with fixed funnel 620. For instance, section 1110 may be configured to couple with the inner bottom surface 901 of mounting column 910. A suitable means may be used to fixably couple adapter 610 with fixed funnel 620. As discussed above, a suitable coupling means may include sonic welding, glue, or any other appropriate process for the type of material used in the adapter and funnel cap assembly.
Spill tunnel 1130 provides a conduit from drainage holes 920 to oil fill opening hole 950. One or more spill tunnel 1130 may be included in an embodiment. Also, bottom section 1120 of adapter 610 provides a tight fit with the oil filler access hole 101 of the automobile engine block. A gasket 676 may be included in one or more embodiments to provide positive pressure lock between the engine block and the oil filler cap adapter assembly.
Another section of the oil filler cap assembly of the present invention is top cover 640 illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, top cover 640 comprises top section 1210; gasket 672, and bottom section 1220. Bottom section 1220 may be threaded on its outside to fit into threads on the inner surface 901 of mounting column 910 thus providing an anchor for top cover 640, when in the closed position. Gasket 672 provides positive pressure lock between top cover 640 and outer ring 660.
Top cover 640 may comprise the same material as the rest of the oil filler cap assembly. In addition, top cover may also include a variety of decorative and non-functional ornamentation. For instance, some decorative materials may be added to the top section 1210 for aesthetic reasons.
The side wall of top section 1210 of top cover 640 may be configured to provide suitable finger grip around its periphery, as illustrated in
In
As illustrated in
The main flow 1300 of fluid enters the filler cap through the center of collapsible funnel assembly 630, where it is channeled into and through the access core 950 defined by inner surface 901 of fixed funnel assembly 620. Adapter assembly 610 (shown detached in
Any fluid retained in the collapsible funnel assembly 630 after the funnel elements are collapsed, as well as any fluid spilled onto the outside of the collapsible funnel assembly 630, is captured through the top of funnel assembly 620 as residual flows 1301. The side wall 940 and surface 902 channel the residual flow 1301 through one or more top inlets of drainage holes 920. The residual flow passes from the lower outlets of drainage holes 920 into an annular gap between fixed funnel assembly 620 and adapter assembly 610, from which the residual flow 1301 is channeled back into the main flow 1300 through one or more spill tunnels 1130.
Other embodiments of the invention are contemplated. As indicated, in one embodiment, the collapsible funnel comprises one or more rings which move relative to one another between a collapsed and extended condition. The funnel may have other configurations, however. For example, the funnel might comprise a flexible wall member, such as a flexible sheath, which may be compressed to a flat or collapsed state, or stretched or extended to define a flow path for fluid. The funnel may also comprise a single rigid element which may be moved inwardly and outwardly between a collapsed position and an extended position. The funnel may also be defined by a plurality of elements which are movable relative to one another in other than the axial direction. For example, in one embodiment, a plurality of elements may be rotatably nested such that, when twisted one direction, they expand to define an elongate flow path, but when twisted in another, they contract. Such embodiments of the invention may be associated with the fluid access opening in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, those elements are associated with an adaptor and may be closed with a cap, as described above.
The cap may also be constructed in other ways than described. In the preferred embodiment, the collapsible funnel is mounted to a fixed funnel, the fixed funnel acting as a mounting base, container for the collapsible funnel when in its closed position, and serving to collect any oil or other fluid which leaks from the fixed funnel. In other embodiments, the fixed funnel may be eliminated. For example, where an impermeable sheath is used as the collapsible funnel, that sheath might be mounted directed to the adapter. In such event, the adapter might include an upwardly extending wall to which the sheath is mounted and over which the cover may be selectively placed.
Thus, an oil filler access or opening closure member, a fluid directing member and a cap with an integrated funnel, has been described. Particular embodiments described herein are illustrative only and should not limit the present invention thereby. The invention is defined by the claims and their full scope of equivalents.
