Container for collecting oil

A container for collecting oil that has a cover and a valve assembly to control the drawing of the collected oil into a household container, such as a plastic milk container. A support assembly is provided to hold the oil filter over the valve assembly so that it can also be drained. A threaded portion on the spout of the valve assembly insures a spill free pouring of the oil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to oil collectors, and more particularly, to 
such collectors that include valved controls. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
The proper disposal of oil from automobiles' crankcases has become an ever 
increasing problem for the environment. Our drinking water is endangered 
and compliance with the pertinent laws will be more closely observed in 
the future. 
Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 
4,524,866 issued to Pollaco where the problem has been documented. 
However, it differs from the present invention because it requires 
cleaning of the pan 14 and it does not have a liquid tight cover. 
Furthermore, this invention is primarily to an oil catch pan as a 
self-supporting structure that includes a closure on the bottom wall that 
is pierced or opened to allow the collected oil out and poured in a jug. 
However, this pan is apparently designed as a disposable throw-away kit 
and the piercing or opening of the closure would more than likely become a 
messy proposition. 
Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of 
more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an 
efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel 
features of the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a 
container for collecting oil that is simple to use and clean while at the 
same time the user may control the outflow of the collected oil and use 
household disposable containers to store the oil until it can be properly 
disposed. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a container for 
collecting oil that can be transported without spilling its contents. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide an oil collecting 
container that is removably mountable to a household container, such as a 
plastic milk container, and allowed to drain out the collected oil and the 
oil inside the oil filter. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a device 
that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its 
effectiveness. 
Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part 
of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of 
fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIG. 1, it can be observed that the present invention is 
generally referred to with numeral 10 and it is shown without cover 20 
that is shown in FIG. 2. 
Oil collecting container 10 has a peripheral wall 30 and a bottom member 
40, as shown in FIG. 2. The capacity of container 10 is sufficient to hold 
the oil contained in the crankcase. Wall 30 includes, in the preferred 
embodiment, several strengthening ribs 31 that prevent deformation of wall 
30. Wall 30 ends with an outwardly extending flange 32 that cooperates 
with peripheral receiving skirt member 22 of cover 20 to provide a liquid 
leak proof closure. A shoulder 23 is provided, in the preferred embodiment 
to insure the locking in place of cover 20. A peripheral skirt 27 is 
provided to insure an oil-tight seal. Cover 20 includes opening 25 that 
allows the air in to occupy the space left by oil drained. A lip 26 is 
provided to facilitate the opening of cover 20. A gasket member 35 is 
sandwiched between flange 32, cover 20 and skirt 22 gasket 35 is intended 
to prevent the leakage of the oil collected. Gasket 35 is preferably made 
out of a material that is not attacked or deteriorated with exposure to 
oil, such as neoprene. A handle 34 is mounted on the outer surface of wall 
30 to facilitate the handling and transportation of collector 10. Handle 
36 is hingedly mounted on wall 30, or as shown in the preferred embodiment 
on the body of valve assembly 50. 
Valve assembly 50 is preferably located on the outer surface of wall 30 and 
opposite to the location of handle 34. In FIG. 2 valve assembly 50 is 
shown to be integrally built on wall 30 and it is designed so that a user 
may control the oil that is being poured out of container 10. The specific 
type of valve used is not critical as long as the user is allowed to 
control the outflow of the collected oil, such as a gate valve. Valve 
assembly 50 includes a termination 52 that has a threaded portion 54 that 
is, in the preferred embodiment, compatible with the outer thread portion 
commonly found in conventional plastic milk containers. Also, a guiding 
spout 56 insures that the oil will not leak out accidentally. A relief 
port 53 is included to allow the air inside container M out. 
Supporting rails 70 and 72 are mounted inside wall 30, preferably over 
valve assembly 50, to cooperatively receive oil filter F that 
conventionally includes a flange G that fits between rails 70 and 72 and 
the inner surface of wall 30. In the preferred embodiment, supporting 
rails 70 and 72 converge towards each other so that they may accept 
filters F of different diameters. Other means for supporting conventional 
oil filters may be used but the idea is to allow the user to position the 
old filter F in such a way that the oil it contains is also drained out. 
Usually, you need two conventional milk containers M to dispose of the oil 
collected from the average automobile crankcase: 5 quarts. A user should 
prudently not fill completely either one of the milk containers. The last 
milk container M may take longer to fill since container 10 should be left 
mounted over milk container M long enough to allow gravity to drain the 
oil completely. Filter F will be mounted inside container 10 when filling 
the second container M. 
To use container 10, cover 20 is removed and valve assembly 50 is closed. 
Container 10 is positioned below the crankcase after the old car's oil 
filter is removed and installed inside container 10 so that it is filled 
with oil. Then cover 20 is placed over container 10. Conventional 
container M is then screwed on to valve assembly 50 horizontally and then 
container 10 is lifted and held in vertical position by container M. Next, 
valve 50 is opened to allow the oil out until container M is filled. Valve 
50 is closed and another container M replaces the one that was filled. 
This second container M needs extra time for filter F to completely drain 
out by gravity. 
It is believed the foregoing description conveys the best understanding of 
the objects and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments 
may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be 
understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as 
illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.