Method and apparatus for assuring maintenance of vehicle components

The invention is to a method and apparatus for increasing the likelihood that a selected vehicle component has been serviced or checked in a timely manner. An indicator is actuated should the vehicle component not be serviced within a preselected time. The vehicle component is in operable association with a timer, which measures the elapsed time between a starting time and a preselected time. The timer is reset by a switch which is actuated by the servicing of the vehicle component. Should the timer reach a preselected time before the switch associated is actuated, then an indicator is actuated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for increasing 
the likelihood that a selected vehicle component has been serviced or 
checked in a timely manner. More particularly, the invention is to a 
method and apparatus by which servicing of the vehicle component actuates 
a switch which resets a timer. Should the timer attain a predetermined 
elapsed time before the component is serviced, then an indicator is 
actuated. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is important that certain vehicle components be regularly serviced in 
order to maintain proper functioning of the vehicle. For instance, the oil 
of a vehicle should be regularly checked for sufficient supply. If the oil 
is not checked regularly, then the engine may be damaged. Additionally, 
other vehicle components should be regularly checked and serviced, such as 
transmission fluid, washer fluid, differential fluid, etc. 
In the past, systems have been developed to indicate that a vehicle 
component is due for maintenance. Such systems include means for manually 
entering in a maintenance time. Run time meters have been used to measure 
the time when a component needs to be serviced. Should the preselected 
time be reached, then a warning system may be actuated indicating that the 
vehicle component needs to be serviced. Similarly, computer systems have 
been used to more effectively determine the time when service of the 
vehicle component is needed. After the preselected time is reached, then 
an indicator may be actuated, typically in a way that it may only be 
viewed by the operator of the vehicle. A problem incurred by these systems 
is that vehicle operator may ignore the warning indicators. 
Particularly in the trucking industry, the owner frequently depends upon 
the truck driver to regularly service the truck. Unfortunately, some truck 
drivers ignore the alarm, actuator, indicator, light, etc. which indicates 
that a particular component needs to be serviced. In order to become aware 
of the problem, the owner must enter the vehicle and often times start the 
engine to determine whether the component needs maintenance. Moreover, 
even if the operator responds to the actuator, the maintenance interval 
has already elapsed. 
It is known to monitor the oil level by electronic means attached to the 
dipstick. When the oil level reaches a low point, a light may be actuated 
to alert the operator that oil needs to be replenished. Again, these 
warnings are often ignored by the operator. Additionally, there is no 
guarantee that the operator has checked and/or replenished the oil. 
Rather, these systems measure the oil level, not the time elapsed between 
consecutive oil checks. 
In view of the above, those skilled in the art will understand that there 
is a need for a method and apparatus which will increase the likelihood 
that a vehicle component has been serviced in a timely manner. The 
disclosed invention meets these needs through a system and method which 
directs a party responsible for the maintenance of such components to the 
site of the vehicle component, in order to avoid operation of the external 
indicator which will inform the owner or other concerned party that the 
vehicle component has not been checked. This increases the likelihood that 
the vehicle component will actually be serviced. Importantly, this 
invention puts the parties responsible for maintenance of the components 
on notice that the vehicle owner or manager is monitoring such 
maintenance. Thus, the parties responsible for the maintenance will have 
more incentive to check the component. Additionally, because the system 
can only be reset by going to the site of the component and actuating the 
switch, chances are the responsible party will more than likely check the 
component. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a system and 
method for increasing the likelihood that a particular vehicle component 
is checked during a specified period of time. 
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a system in 
which the owner/manager of the vehicle can more easily detect whether a 
vehicle component has been regularly serviced. 
The above objects are achieved according to the present invention. A 
vehicle includes an engine which has a vehicle component which needs 
periodically to be serviced. A timer is associated with the vehicle 
component for monitoring the elapsed time between service events. An 
indicator is operably associated with the timer for being actuated by the 
timer upon a preselected time being achieved. A switch is proximate to and 
activated upon service of the vehicle component. The switch is actuated 
upon service of the vehicle component and causes the timer to be reset so 
that the indicator is not actuated. 
A method for increasing the likelihood that a vehicle component has been 
serviced comprises the steps of providing a serviceable vehicle component 
operably associated with a switch, monitoring with a timer the time 
elapsed between a starting time and a preselected time, and resetting the 
timer through actuation of the switch prior to achieving the preselected 
time or alternatively actuating the indicator should the preselected time 
be achieved. 
A feature of the system and method is that the timer system is reset by 
servicing of the vehicle component. This increases the likelihood that the 
parties responsible for maintenance of the vehicle will service the 
selected component before the indicator is operated. This system will give 
the responsible parties incentive to check the vehicle component, because 
otherwise a light will indicate to the owner/manager that the component 
has not been timely serviced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The basic schematic of this invention is best shown in FIG. 1. Vehicle 
component C is operably associated with timer T, such that servicing of 
the vehicle component C actuates switches 2 and 4 which reset timer T. In 
the preferred embodiment, the vehicle component is an oil dipstick, but 
can be any vehicle component which requires regular maintenance. 
In order for timer T to be reset, switch 2 and switch 4 must both be 
actuated. This occurs when the dipstick is twice removed from the tube, 
each removal causing one of the switches to be actuated or closed. Switch 
2 is a normally open switch which is closed as a result of the dipstick 
being first removed from the tube. Switch 4 is a normally open switch 
which is closed as a result of the dipstick being twice removed from the 
tube. When checking the oil level, the dipstick typically is removed, 
cleaned, and then re-inserted. After the dipstick is re-inserted, it is 
again removed to check the oil level. Thus, proper checking of the oil 
requires that the dipstick be removed twice from its surrounding sleeve. 
Timer T can only be reset if both switches 2 and 4 are closed. The 
switches are closed by removal of the dipstick, so two removals are 
required in order to cause both switches to be closed. This improves the 
likelihood that the component has been serviced, because it requires the 
dipstick to be removed twice before the timer T is reset. The timer T may 
have an internal auxiliary timer which monitors the time required for 
switches 2 and 4 to both close, because they should normally close in a 
relatively short elapsed time when the oil is checked. Thus, simply 
lifting the dipstick on two widely spaced occasions will not be sufficient 
to reset timer T. 
Timer T includes switch 6 which is actuated when timer T reaches the 
preselected time. Switch 6 is a normally open switch which closes when 
timer T reaches that preselected time. The preselected time can be 
manually or otherwise set in timer T. Should the preselected time elapse 
before the vehicle component is serviced, then switch 6 is closed and 
actuates indicator I. Indicator I contains a separate electrical power 
supply to maintain operation of the indicator I even when the vehicle is 
not in service. Indicator I should be located on a part of the vehicle in 
which it can be easily discerned, preferably on the outside of the 
vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, indicator I is located on the grill 
of the vehicle. This permits interested parties to easily discover if the 
party responsible for maintenance has checked the vehicle component within 
the specified time period. Indicator I can be anything which is capable of 
alerting that the vehicle component has not been checked, such as a light, 
siren, LED, or the like. After indicator I is operated, the system can be 
reset by servicing of the vehicle component. 
This invention requires that the parties responsible for maintenance of the 
vehicle trigger the switch located at the vehicle component C within a 
preselected period of time. If the responsible party checks the vehicle 
component C before the time has elapsed, the timer T is reset. If the 
preselected time elapses before the responsible party services the 
component, the indicator I is operated. Unlike other systems, this 
invention is reset at the site of the vehicle component, which increases 
the likelihood that the component will actually be serviced. Additionally, 
it puts the responsible parties on notice that the owner/manager is 
monitoring maintenance. This adds another incentive to check and service 
the vehicle component. The time monitored by timer T may be running time 
or actual elapsed time. 
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a preferred embodiment. Vehicle 
component C is a dipstick assembly 10 which is used to check the oil 
supply. Dipstick assembly 10 is the typical kind found in vehicles, with 
dipstick 12 and tube 14. Dipstick 12 includes flexible shaft 16 and 
manually engageable ring 18 which enables removal of dipstick 12. 
Switch 20 is actuated so that its contacts close by the removal of dipstick 
12 through use of manually engageable ring 18. Switch 20 may be any 
switch, such as a whisker switch or reed switch, which can be actuated by 
removal of the dipstick 12 from tube 14. Switch 20 is in electrical 
connection with timer T, so that the actuations of switch 20 closes its 
contacts and causes timer T to be reset. Timer T is connected to indicator 
I such that should timer T reach a preselected time, then indicator I is 
actuated. Switch 20 is mounted to tube 14 by bracket 22. 
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention. Vehicle V has an 
engine E and a grille G. In the preferred embodiment, dipstick assembly 10 
is connected to timer T, such that removal of dipstick 12 resets timer T 
after both switches 2 and 4 have been closed. Those skilled in the art 
recognize that electronic timers may be used, such as provided by 
microprocessors, instead of an analog timer T. Timer T either continually 
runs or runs only during operation of the vehicle. Timer T can be set for 
closing switch 6 after any set elapsed time, preferably at a time which is 
indicative of when the oil should be checked. The timer T may allow the 
owner to determine the preselected time. If timer T attains the 
preselected elapsed time, indicator I is operated. Indicator I is 
connected to buzzer B such that when indicator I is operated, buzzer B is 
operated alerting the operator of the vehicle that the oil needs to be 
checked. 
While we prefer the use of switches 2 and 4 for resetting timer T, the 
invention may be implemented through a single one of those switches. The 
switches 2 and 4 are used to more realistically monitor the typical steps 
used to check the oil. Should a single switch be used instead of dual 
switches, then the timer T is reset by a single removal of the dipstick 12 
from the tube 14, without assurance that the oil was in fact checked. Even 
with the single switch, however, the person actuating the switch must 
approach the dipstick assembly 10, thus increasing the likelihood that the 
oil has been checked. 
Also, while we illustrate switches 2 and 4, those skilled in the art will 
recognize that a single switch may be used, provided that there is a 
counter monitoring how many times in a given period the switch is closed. 
Closing and opening the switch within a predetermined period, such as 
within one minute, may be used to indicate that the dipstick 12 has twice 
been removed from tube 14. That procedure and time would normally occur 
when the oil is being checked. 
A perspective view of the preferred embodiment of timer T is best shown in 
FIG. 4. Timer T is a digital timer with a front display 30. Front display 
30 includes control panel 31, digital screen 32, and sign indicator 33. 
Digital screen 32 displays the preselected time in hours and minutes. 
Control panel 31 includes slot 34 to adjust the hour display, slot 36 to 
adjust the minute display, slot 38 to lock the set time in digital screen 
32, and slot 40 to control the mode adjustment. Slots 34, 36, 38, and 40 
are operated with a screwdriver having a common head. Backing 42 covers 
control panel 31 and is secured by lock 46 to prevent tampering with the 
set conditions. Once control panel 31 has been set, sign indicator 33 
displays the time remaining to check the oil before indicator I is 
operated, or how long the responsible party has ignored indicator I. If 
sign indicator 33 shows a positive (+) sign, the time displayed on digital 
screen 32 indicates the time remaining before indicator I is operated. A 
negative sign (-) indicates the length of time the responsible party has 
been neglecting to check the oil. Sign indicator 33 will be negative when 
indicator I is operated. 
In the back of timer T is a battery such that if the operator of the 
vehicle decides to cut the wires from the battery to the timer, the backup 
battery will begin to power the timer. The backup battery is enclosed by a 
backing which is secured by lock 46 and seal 48. If seal 48 becomes 
broken, this would indicate that the reading on timer T may be inaccurate. 
FIG. 5 discloses a second embodiment of the invention in which the switch 
20 of FIG. 2 is replaced with lever switch 50. Lever switch 50 has a 
contact housing 52 and electrical connector 54 for connection to power 
supply plug 56. Pivotal level 58 is connected at 60 to switch 50, and is 
disposed within tube 14 of dipstick assembly 10. Lever 58 is biased into 
the position of FIG. 5 in which the lever extends into tube 14, so that it 
may be engaged by shaft 16. Thus, when shaft 16 is lowered into tube 14, 
then lever 58 is engaged and pivoted in the direction of arrow 62 for 
causing opening of the contacts on switch 50. When shaft 16 is removed, 
then the contacts on the switch 50 close. 
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is 
understood that it is capable of further modifications, uses, and/or 
adaptations of the invention following the general principle of the 
invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as 
come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention 
pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set 
forth, and fall within the scope of the invention of the limits of the 
appended claims.