Abstract:
An apparatus for permitting the draining of liquid such as oil from a small internal combustion engine is provided. The apparatus consists of two separate components so as to allow for its easy use and inexpensive manufacture. Additionally, the apparatus is constructed so as to not to require costly or complex valve assemblies so as to remove the potential for leaking and associated undesirable effects.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to assemblies used in draining liquid from a container such as an internal combustion engine, and more specifically, to structure which accomplishes the draining function without the use of complex valves or other cost increasing components.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Changing the engine operating oil of an internal combustion engine often requires a number of steps by the person attempting the procedure. These steps have included removing and subsequently re-adjusting certain apparatus which retains the oil within the engine. In the particular situation involving smaller sized engines, it has been common for this apparatus to consist of or include either a plug assembly or nipple and cap assembly that is adapted with the engine crankcase so as to retain the oil therein. Additionally, assemblies containing extensive valve configurations have also been used to permit and control the flow of oil from the engine as the drainage process occurs.  
           [0003]    However, the above assemblies have a variety of undesirable aspects associated with them. First, use of the above has often caused the task of changing oil to be quite cumbersome and dirty since the oil ordinarily rushes from the crankcase once the plug is removed or, in the case of a valve assembly, oil leaks from the assembly as a result of a faulty seal therein. In each of the above cases, oil has become spilled over members of the engine and creates undesired consequences such as having to clean the areas on which the oil has spilled as well as fumes that occur upon operation of the engine. Secondly and in the particular case whereby a valve assembly is used to drain spent oil, there exists the unattractive prospect of increased cost(s) of manufacture simply by virtue of the inclusion of added parts or components used in regulating the flow of oil as it passes through the assembly. Thirdly, at least in the case of the nipple assembly, a tool or tools is/are required to adjust its nipple component into and out of the engine. When used, the tool or tools hold(s) onto the cap after it has been attached to the nipple whereby both are then positioned into the crankcase. When removal of the cap occurs, rotation thereof turns both the nipple and the cap out of the crankcase causing oil to drain all over the surface of the frame.  
           [0004]    Thus, it would be beneficial to provide an oil drain apparatus that permits an operator to easily, cleanly and inexpensively cause the draining of oil in an internal combustion engine such as those used with lawn and garden tractors.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is provided an apparatus that permits an operator to quickly and easily drain oil from the engine to which it is attached. Additionally, the apparatus is constructed inexpensively so as to require as few components as necessary to permit draining to occur whereas this also includes not requiring the use of tools.  
           [0006]    To make the apparatus easy to use and inexpensive to construct, it includes only two parts, one of which is a single longitudinally extending tube. The tube includes a bore extending between its first and second ends which serves as a passageway through which oil flows as it is drained from the crankcase. At its first end, the tube is configured to matingly engage the engine crankcase. At its second end, projections are formed on opposite sides thereof and onto which a second part in the form of a cap, preferably formed of an elastomeric material such as nylon, may interlock to close off and thereby contain oil within the tube or be detached therefrom to allow oil to drain from the engine.  
           [0007]    To permit an operator to quickly and easily drain oil from the crankcase, the operator need only twist and pull the cap from the second end of the tube. As such, the operator is not required to use a tool or tools of any particular type to drain and thereafter contain the engine oil since the cap may be removed and replaced with a simple pull off of or push onto the tube, respectively.  
           [0008]    To drain the oil more cleanly so as to avoid its spillage on the frame, the cap is provided to extend beyond the frame when it is positioned to release the oil. As such, time spent in cleaning the engine components as well as the area in which the oil was changed may be substantially reduced, if not avoided, since release of the oil will occur away from the engine frame.  
           [0009]    Thus, there is provided an apparatus which may be used to drain oil from an engine in a manner that is uncomplicated, clean and inexpensive as a result of its construction and use.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of the oil drain apparatus of the present invention whereby the cap is in its fully closed and locked position.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of the oil drain apparatus whereby the cap is in an extended position such that it may be detached from the remainder of the apparatus to permit the draining of oil therefrom.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded view according to FIG. 2  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a side perspective and exploded view according to FIG. 2 and which shows the locking pins used to secure the cap of the oil drain assembly.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tube member of the present drain assembly showing the bore extending therethrough.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the interior of the cap of the oil drain assembly.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the mounting of the assembly of the present invention on the frame of a lawn and garden tractor whereby the assembly extends beyond the frame. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    Looking to FIG. 1, there is provided a drain assembly  10 , preferably used in draining liquids such as the engine oil of a small internal combustion engine which is ordinarily used with vehicles such as lawn and garden tractors. Although shown throughout FIGS.  1 - 4  in its substantially upright position, it is intended that the assembly  10  be mounted horizontally so as to extend laterally beyond the tractor frame  11 . However, mounting may occur in any orientation relative to the engine and frame  11 .  
         [0018]    As seen in FIG. 1 and more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly  10  consists of a first cylindrical member preferably formed as a tube  12 , having first and second ends  14 ,  16  respectively, and a bore  18  extending therebetween. The first end  14  is threaded for engagement with a crankcase  19  of the engine. A nut  20  is disposed intermediate the first and second ends  14 ,  16  so as to provide an operator a surface on which the assembly  10  may be grasped so as to be securely tightened with the engine. The second end  16  includes an outer face  22  adjacent its edge  24  which includes an outwardly and downwardly extending beveled lip  26  relative to the edge  24 . Below the lip  26 , as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second end  16  includes a groove  28  formed therein and in which is placed an o-ring  30 . At its second end  16  and intermediate the groove  28  and nut  20 , the first member  12  includes offset and opposed projections  32  on an exterior surface  34  as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0019]    As emphasized in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly  10  further includes a second cylindrical member provided in the form of a cap  36 . On opposing sides of the cap  36 , slots  38  and  40  are formed and provide channels through which the projections  32  are positioned, as discussed below. The slots  38 ,  40  are bordered by first and second pairs of detents or tabs  42 ,  44 , respectively, which extend from members of the cap  36  outlined by the slots  38 ,  40  as is shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3. Provided above the slots  38 ,  40  and around the side surface  46  of the cap  36  are protrusions or grips  48 .  
         [0020]    In its closed or sealed position shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral members of the cap  36  will abut against the projections  32  whereby an operator will have rotated the cap  36  counterclockwise or moved it in a first direction to cause the projections  32  to be positioned past the detents  42  and abut the cap  36 . Additionally, the cap  36  includes a concave member  50  or circumferential indentation on its top surface  52  as shown in FIG. 3. The concave member  50  includes an upwardly sloped incline, as shown in FIG. 6, which partially abuts the beveled lip  26  so as to decrease the force exerted on the o-ring  30  when the cap  36  is in its fully closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the cap  36  is constructed with a ridge  56  on its inside surface which extends completely therearound to permit the cap  36  to be slipped onto and off of the tube  12  with greater ease.  
         [0021]    To begin the process of draining oil from the engine, it is necessary only that the operator grasp the grips or protrusions  48  and rotate the cap  36  clockwise or move it in a second direction so as to cause the projections  32  to be positioned to the right of the detents  42 . Thereafter, the cap  36  can be pulled so as to change the positioning of the respective projections  32  relative to the slots  38 ,  40  and cause them to abut against the detents  44  as also shown in FIG. 2. When in this position, the o-ring  30  provides a seal between the first and second members  12 ,  36  so as to contain oil that flows into the cap  36  as a result of its outward extension. Accordingly, the oil does not leak or otherwise exit the assembly  10  prior to an intentional detachment of the cap  36  from the first member  12 . Additionally, extension of the cap  36 , as shown in FIG. 2, permits the assembly  10  to allow draining of the oil beyond the frame on which the engine is mounted. To thereafter permit draining of the oil from the engine and the assembly  10 , the operator need only pull the cap  36  outwardly past the projections  32  of the first member  12  such that they move beyond the detents  44  as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0022]    Thus, there is provided an apparatus that permits an operator to easily, cleanly and inexpensively change the oil of a small internal combustion engine such as those utilized with smaller sized lawn and garden tractors.  
         [0023]    Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.