Abstract:
An oil drain pan comprises a unitary, molded plastic container with a bottom panel, a lateral side wall panel and a top panel with a large opening therein. A wire handle is inserted into a peripheral slot in the top panel. Casters are affixed to the side panel intermediate the top and bottom panel so that the container is elevated appropriately but maintains a minimum low profile. The container is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and further includes a pour spout at the front end thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a container or drain pan designed for placement beneath a vehicle for the collection of fluid, such as oil, drained from a crankcase, and for safe transport of that collected fluid. 
   Collecting fluids from a motor vehicle so that the fluid may be replaced is a common task performed by a mechanic or vehicle service person. A protocol for undertaking such a task, the vehicle is elevated upon a rack and an oil or fluid collection funnel assembly is positioned beneath the vehicle so that when the drain plug is removed, fluid will flow into the funnel collection device. However, many vehicles are so large and so heavy that elevating them on a rack becomes somewhat impractical. Thus, there has developed a protocol of removing the drain plug from beneath the standing vehicle while at the same time positioning a low profile collection pan under the vehicle so that fluid will flow or drain into the pan. Various prior art devices have been developed for such an undertaking including the device illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,246 issued Apr. 2, 1996 for a “Crankcase Oil Drain Pan”. Other such devices in the marketplace include an oil pan collection device offered by OTC Tools as OTC Product No. 5076 Transfer Tanker. The OTC device comprises a collection pan mounted on casters. The pan is generally rectangular and includes a wagon style handle at the front end for transport of the device. Another similar product is offered by Todd Enterprises of Cranston, R.I., and is identified as Todd “Low-Boy 17 Gallon Oil Drain”, Product No. 2400-34. John Dow Industries offers a similar product identified as a “17 Gallon Low-Profile Portable Oil Drain”, Product No. JDI-LP4. John Dow Industries offers a larger version of a similar product identified as “25 Gallon Low-Profile Portable Oil Drain”, Product No. JDI-LP5. Finally, John Dow Industries offers a smaller capacity device identified as “10 Gallon Low-Profile Portable Oil Drain”, Product No. JDI-AF10E. 
   Such prior art devices have a number of features in common. They are generally portable and move on rollers or casters so that they may be easily positioned beneath a vehicle such as a truck. Typically, they include some type of handle or mechanism to facilitate transport or movement of the device. Typically, the products include a means to effect draining of the product once the pan or container is filled with fluid collected from the vehicle. Finally, such products typically have a low profile so that they may be easily positioned or guided beneath a vehicle, particularly a large vehicle, such as a truck. 
   While such devices are useful, there has remained the need for an inexpensive, yet rugged and reliable drain pan construction which is portable and can be easily filled and then drained. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention comprises a unitary, molded plastic container with a retractable handle. The container includes a bottom panel which has a generally cruciform shape, a lateral, circumferential side panel extending upwardly from the bottom panel and a top panel which includes a circumferential, inwardly, extending edge that defines a large opening in the center of the container for receipt of collected fluid. The center opening comprises approximately 40% or more of the area bounded or defined by the top panel. Thus, a large opening is provided for receipt of fluid collected from beneath the vehicle thereby enabling easy alignment of the drain pan opening with a drain plug outlet. The drain pan construction further includes fully rotatable casters positioned in a rectangular pattern in recessed sections of the lateral side panel. The side panel is also configured with hand grip openings at the front and rear end of the drain pan. The top panel includes a peripheral slot into which a wire handle may be positioned. The wire handle is U-shaped and includes spaced, generally parallel legs inserted into bushings molded into the top panel. A hand opening is also provided in the top side panel to enable gripping a crown of the wire handle which connects the spaced legs. 
   Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved drain pan construction. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved drain pan construction comprised of a molded plastic container with a wire rod handle for easy transport thereof on rotatable casters. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a rugged, yet inexpensive drain pan construction. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a drain pan construction comprised of an open top panel, a peripheral or lateral side panel connected to a cruciform shaped bottom panel wherein separate, rotatable casters are positioned intermediate the legs of the cruciform bottom panel. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a drain pan construction which has a low profile, which includes peripheral hand grips and which may be easily emptied once the container or drain pan is filled with liquid. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a drain pan construction having a pour spout to facilitate emptying of the drain pan once it is filled. 
   These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a to plan view of the drain pan construction of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the drain pan of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation of the drain pan of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a front end view of the drain pan of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a back side or rear end view of the drain pan of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the drain pan of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the drain pan of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the back or rear side wherein the handle is depicted in an elevated position; and 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the drain pan of the invention as it is utilized and positioned by a workman or mechanic. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the figures, the drain pan of the invention includes a generally planar, flat, bottom panel  10 , a circumferential, lateral side panel  12  and a generally flat, planar top panel  14 . The container is unitary and preferably made from a molded plastic material such as polyethylene. The bottom panel  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , has a generally cruciform shape comprised of four legs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  which are arranged at right angles to form a cross with four legs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  connected at a center portion  24 . The bottom panel  10  thus forms the bottom of the pan or container. A longitudinal rib  26  extending axially along axis  60  from the front to the back of the bottom panel  10  is provided to provide structural integrity. The bottom panel  10  also includes a circumferential rib  28  formed to further enhance the structural integrity of the bottom panel  10  as well as the container itself. 
   Extending generally vertically upwardly from the bottom panel  10  is the side panel  12 . The side panel  12  is generally rectangular in shape but is configured to define recess sections to permit the inclusion of casters as described hereinafter and to provide for hand holds described hereinafter. Thus, the side panel  12  includes a first lateral side  30  and a spaced second lateral side  32  joined by a front side  34  and a back side  36  to define thereby an enclosure. The lateral side panel  12  is integrally molded into and connected with the bottom panel  10  and the top panel  14 . The top panel  14  includes a generally center opening defined by a circumferential rim  40 . The opening defined by the rim  40  preferably includes at least about 40% or more of the top surface area defined by the circumference of the top panel  14 . The rim  40  is formed with an inwardly and downwardly surface to define a funnel shape leading to the interior of the drain pan or container of the invention. This facilitates direction of movement of fluid drained from a motor vehicle, for example. 
   The lateral side panel  12  further includes molded hand holds  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 . The hand holds  50 ,  52  are associated with the front section or side  34  of the side wall panel  12 . The hand holds  54 ,  56  are associated with the backside section or side  36  of the side wall  12 . The handles  50 ,  52 , as well as the handles  54  and  56 , are arranged symmetrically about center line axis  60  of the container. This symmetry facilitates the ease of use and access to the container. A spout  62  is molded into the lateral side panel  12  and extends axially from the front wall section  34  thereof. The spout  62  connects from the interior of the container and includes a cap  64  which may be opened to permit draining of the contents of the container. Note that the spout  62  extends axially forward along the axis  60 . It extends outwardly and downwardly from the juncture of the side panel  12  and the top panel  14 . Thus, the hand holds  54  and  56  may, for example, be gripped to elevate the container and tip the container to direct fluid through the open spout  62 . 
   The top side panel  14  includes a partially circumferential groove or slot  70 . The slot  70  extends along the lateral side section  30 , backside section  36  and lateral side section  32 . A molded hand well  72  is formed along the axis  60  at the back wall section  36  of the top wall  14 . Adjacent the front wall section  34 , but molded into the top wall  14  are first and second bushings  76  and  78  which are adapted to receive L-shaped extensions  80  and  82  associated with wire rod handle  84 . The wire rod handle  84  thus includes a first leg  86 , connecting crown  88 , and a second leg  90  to form the U-shaped handle  84 . The U-shaped handle  84  may thus pivot on extensions  80 ,  82  in the bushings  76  and  78  between the position illustrated, for example, in FIG.  2  and the position, for example, illustrated in FIG.  8 . In this manner, the filled container or the empty container may be transported easily. 
     FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  illustrate in greater detail the arrangement of the fully rotatable casters  102  that are incorporated with the drain pan or container of the invention. The casters  102  thus each include a rotatable wheel, such as wheel  100 . The caster  102  pivots fully about a vertical caster axis  104 . A mounting plate  106  is provided for attaching the caster  102  to a recessed mounting portion  108  of the lateral side wall panel  12  adjacent each of the corners of the generally rectangular container. Thus, there are four casters  102 , one situated in each of the four corners of the drain pan and generally in a rectangular pattern at equally spaced distance from the axis  60 . The casters  102  are positioned so that the bottoms of each of the wheels  100  are generally co-planar and extend slightly below the bottom panel  10 . The casters  102  are thus positioned between the cruciform arms or extension legs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  of the bottom panel  10  and positioned in a manner which enables them to rotate fully yet provide superior balance to the container. Also, since the casters  102  are inboard of the lateral side panel  12 , they are protected from engaging or bumping into elements which otherwise might restrict the movement of the drain pan or container. 
   It should be noted that the slot  70  into which the handle  84  is fitted has a series of slot extensions. For example, the slot  70  includes an extension  110  which enables the handle  84  and, more particularly, the leg  86  to fit therein when the handle  84  is rotated from the position in  FIG. 1  to a fully opened position. A similar slot  112  is provided for cooperation with the leg  90  associated with the handle. Further, lateral slot extension  114  and slot extension  116  are provided to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the handle  84  from the container. The slots  114  and  116  enable the L-shaped leg extensions  80 ,  82  to be fitted into or removed from the bushings  76 ,  78  when the handle  84  is maintained in the vertical position relative to the top side panel  14 . 
   The handle  84  itself which includes first and second spaced lateral side legs  86 ,  90  and a connecting crown  88  is designed to fit into the slot  70  and not interfere with the space or opening defined by the rim  40 . The handle  84  thus, when retained in the slot  70 , provides a reinforcing feature associated with the drain pan yet and is also easily maintained in a very low profile within the top panel  14  of the drain pan or container. 
   As mentioned previously, the center line axis  60  constitutes an axis of symmetry in the longitudinal direction for the drain pan or container. This facilitates the ease of use of the drain pan or container and provides for improved balance in its use and movement. 
   It is possible to vary the elements or features of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The invention is to be therefore limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.