Abstract:
A drain pan for collection of fluid from the wheel bearing housing of a vehicle includes spaced lateral sides connected by connecting sides shaped to fit on the rim of the vehicle. The connecting side has upper ends which serve the dual function of providing a storage tray as well as providing a hand grip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the principal aspect, the present invention relates to a drain pan which is used to collect oil that is drained from the hub and axle of a vehicle such as a large over-the-road truck. 
     Modern trucks and other vehicles typically lubricate the wheel bearings with oil. The wheel bearings are immersed in oil to provide smooth and effective operation of the wheel rim which is mounted on the axle. Such wheels are mounted on rims that are affixed to the axle. The bearings are retained within an axle hub or housing and are immersed in oil. 
     Periodically it is necessary to drain the oil from the wheel bearing housing for replacement of seals, cam bushings, axles, hubs, spiders and hub caps. Merely removing the oil cap from the bearing housing will typically result in spillage of oil as it drains from the hub or housing. This poses an environmental hazard as well as a potential violation of legal requirements associated with recycling and proper collection of used vehicle fluids such as oil. 
     It has been proposed that an oil pan be placed on the horizontal flange associated with the rim of a wheel, and that the pan then be positioned under the hub of the axle in a manner which will enable collection of oil as it drains from the hub. Alternatively, another technique calls for placement of absorbent rags or other absorbent materials on the tire rim which become soaked with the oil, then collected and recycled. 
     These solutions are generally acceptable. Utilization of an oil pan appears, however, to be the most desirable solution to the problem. The design and construction of an appropriate oil pan which will have universal application for wheels and rims of multiple sizes, which can be easily transported, stored and utilized in many situations, and which is easy to position on the rim of a vehicle wheel has been identified as a design goal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principle aspect the invention comprises a pan for collection of fluid from the wheel bearing housing or hub of a vehicle. The pan is formed with a flat bottom surface and arcuate sides which enable the pan to be easily positioned on a circular wheel rim. The pan further includes outwardly extended hand grips at its upper ends which, in a preferred embodiment, also comprise trays for placement of nuts or other items associated with the axle, wheel or rim. The pan further includes spaced, lateral sides joined by a connecting side. The connecting side defines the flat bottom and arcuate side elements required for effective placement and retention of the pan on the rim of a vehicle. The lateral sides have an arcuate top edge or margin to facilitate positioning of the pan on the vehicle rim so that the pan will not interfere with the hub or access to the hub of the vehicle. A circumferential rim is formed in the pan to enhance its structural integrity and further, the lateral sides of the pan have a draft angle to enable the pan to be easily stored or nested with other pans. In a preferred embodiment the pan is manufactured from a polymeric material such as polypropylene. 
     Further, such pans may be easily transported because of the side hand grips which also function as part trays. Because of the flat bottom of the pan, the pan may be placed on the floor without fear of tipping, spillage and loss of its contents while at the same time the connecting arcuate sides ensure the pan will remain in proper position when placed on the circular flange of a rim beneath a hub which is to be drained. 
     Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved drain pan for a vehicle wheel bearing housing. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a drain pan for a vehicle which may be easily moved or transported and which will hold accessory parts associated with the hub of an axle. 
     It is a further object of the invention to make a pan for collection of fluid from the axle and hub of a vehicle wherein the pan is fabricated from a molded plastic material which is inexpensive, rugged, lightweight and easy to use. 
     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 which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the pan of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the pan of FIG. 1 as viewed from the underside thereof, 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the view of the pan of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the pan of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pan of FIG. 4 taken along the line  5 — 5 ; 
     FIG. 6 is an end-view of the pan of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the handle and tray section of the pan of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the positioning of the pan of the invention on the rim of a vehicle wherein alternative rim sizes are indicated in phantom. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The drain pan of the invention is preferably manufactured as a molded product from a polymeric material such as polypropylene. Referring to the figures, the molded drain pan includes a first lateral side  10  and a spaced second lateral side  12  which is generally parallel to and spaced from the first lateral side  10 . A connecting side  14  is integrally molded with and connects the lateral sides  10  and  12 . The lateral sides  10  and  12  are formed at a draft angle or are canted inwardly from the top to the bottom of the pan to permit stacking and nesting of drain pans of the type depicted in the figures. Each lateral side  10  and  12  is substantially identical in terms of its configuration. Thus the sides  10  and  12  are generally congruent one with respect to the other. 
     The connecting side  14  includes a flat bottom side  16 , a first arcuate side section  18  and a second arcuate side section  20 . The side sections  18  and  20  extend from the opposite ends of the bottom section  16 . The arcuate side sections  18  and  20  connect smoothly to flat, opposite, end panels  22  and  24 . The end panels  22  and  24  extend upwardly from arcuate side sections  18 ,  20  to form the upper ends of the connecting side  14 ; namely, mainly connecting ends  26  and  28 . The configuration and shape of the connecting ends  26  and  28  is such that the ends  26  and  28  each define a tray  30  and  32  as well as a hand grip extension  34  and  36 . That is, the upper ends  26  and  28  extend outwardly and, in combination with the inner side of the connecting wall  14 , define cavities or trays  30  and  32 . The cavities  30  and  32  provide receptacles for lug nuts, for example, associated with the hub of a vehicle wheel. The upper ends  26  and  28  thus serve the dual function of providing a storage tray or well  30  and  32  as well as a hand grip section  34  and  36 . 
     The spaced lateral side walls  10  and  12  include a peripheral rim  40  which extends about the entire periphery of the pan to enhance its rigidity. Each side wall  10  and  12  also includes an arcuate to edge or margin  42  and  44  to facilitate placement of the pan underneath the axle and hub on the rim of a vehicle. 
     The functionality of the various component parts provides an important series of features for the invention. For example, the flat bottom  16  permits the drain pan to be placed on the floor for storage either when full or empty. The arcuate side sections  18  and  20  ensure that the pan will fit and be useful in combination with vehicle rims of various size depending upon the vehicle which is being serviced. For example, as shown in FIG. 8 there is depicted schematically the interior flat horizontal flange of a rim of a small one-ton truck having a five inch hub. The circular pattern  46  of the rim associated with that hub is such that the drain pan will fit within that circle. The other phantom circles depicted in FIG. 8 are representative of various hub and wheel sizes associated with other standard trucks in the industry. It is noted that the arcuate side sections  18  and  20  are configured so that the drain pan will easily fit and be balanced on the rim of all such vehicles regardless of the size thereof. The hand grip sections  34  and  36  are easily accessible in all circumstances. The upper edge or rim of each lateral side  10  and  12  is configured so that it will not interfere with the vehicle hub regardless of the size of the vehicle rim. The trays  30  and  32  are easily accessible for storage of lug nuts for example. 
     It is possible to vary the size, arrangement and construction of the various elements comprising the drain pan of the invention. For example, the radius of the arcuate side sections  18  and  20  may be varied though as depicted in figured  8  it is preferred that the radius be associated with the smallest size hub and wheel rim. The inclusion of one or two cavities or storage trays in the gripping handles  34  and  36  is optional. The particular configuration of the lateral sides  10  and  12  is also variable depending upon requirements. For example, the lateral sides  10  and  12  need not necessarily be congruent in shape. Thus the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.