Abstract:
A telescoping funnel which allows a user to pour oil into an engine. The funnel features spring ball latches allowing the funnel to lock into place when it is expanded or compressed. When the funnel is not in use, the funnel compresses into a small size to fit in a vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates, in general, to a telescoping funnel, and, in particular, to a telescoping funnel for adding oil. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     In the prior art various types of funnels have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,059 to Lahnan et al discloses an oil fill funnel with a latching cap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,867 to Schoenhard discloses an oil filler funnel and cap with the cap being pivoted to the funnel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,983 to Hatcher discloses an oil cap with a self contained funnel and a removable cover. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,623 to Fisher discloses an oil fill funnel which fits over the oil fill spout. 
     U.S. Design Pat. No. 398,619 to Yevak discloses a design for an oil fill funnel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an improved device for attaching a telescoping oil fill spout to a oil fill tube on an engine. The telescoping tubes have latches to hold the tube in a closed or open position, as desired by the user. Attached to the telescoping tube is a cap to seal the top of the tube. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system that is easy to use. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system that is easy to attach and detach. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system that is easy to use. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention in the expanded position. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial view of the telescoping joint between two adjacent tubes of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Changing the oil in a motor vehicle is a time consuming and, often, messy process. This process involves, at times, placing a bucket underneath the oil drain plug, removing the oil drain plug and filter, and waiting for the oil to drain from the engine of the motor vehicle. When the oil has substantially drained from the engine of the motor vehicle, the user tightens the oil drain plug and oil filter. Next, the user removes the oil cap from the engine. Typically, the oil cap is attached to either the top of the engine or an oil fill spout and if the oil cap is attached to the engine, it is difficult to remove due to the engine&#39;s heat and vibrations. Next, the user pours oil in the opening that was once covered by the oil cap and the user must take great care to not spill oil on the engine. This process can be either time consuming since the user does not wish to spill oil on the engine or, if the user is not careful, the process can be extremely messy since oil may spill on the engine. 
     In order to avoid this problem, the present invention is designed to replace a conventional oil cap that is placed either on the engine or on an oil fill spout. The present invention features telescoping tubes having latches that hold the tubes in a closed or open position. Attached to the top of the telescoping tubes is a cap for sealing the top of the tubes. 
     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows the present invention  10  having telescoping tube  11 , conventional spring loaded ball latch  12 , lower cap  13 , spring clip  14 , latch  15 , and oil cap  16 . It should be noted that the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is merely for illustration purposes only and should not be considered the only shape, or form, the present invention could take. For example, the present invention  10  is shown as being substantially cylindrical, however the present invention may be in the shape of a rectangle, square, or any shape known within the art. The present invention  10  may be constructed out of metal or heat resistant plastic. 
     Telescoping tube  11  has at least one additional cylinder  21  (see FIG. 2) contained within tube  11  wherein each cylinder is slightly larger than the next. It should be appreciated that, as shown in FIG. 1, the telescoping tube  11  is shown compacted or in its closed position. When the telescoping tube  11  is expanded, as shown in FIG. 2, each cylinder forms a watertight seal with the other cylinders and would look like a funnel. 
     Telescoping tube  11  also features at least one ball latch  12  which holds each cylinder of the telescoping tube  11  in place when the cylinders are in the open or closed position. For example, at least one ball latch  12  on telescoping tube  11  prevents the present invention  10  from expanding. Similarly, when the user expands the telescoping tube  11 , as shown in FIG. 2, the ball latch  12  on telescoping tube  11  prevents the telescoping tube  11  from collapsing onto tube  21 . In order to accommodate the ball latch  12 , a pair of holes  17  must be placed in the sides of telescoping tube  11 , one to receive the ball when the tube is in the closed position and one to receive the ball  12  when the tube is in the open position. A similar arrangement is used for each of the telescoping tubes  11 ,  21 ,  22  in the device. This structure will be explained in more detail in FIG.  3 . 
     Lower cap  13  is similar to a conventional oil cap and the smallest cylinder  22  within telescoping tube  11  is attached to the lower cap  13 . Preferably, the smallest cylinder and lower cap  13  are of unitary, i.e. one piece, construction, however other embodiments, such as a two-piece construction are within the scope of the instant invention. If lower cap  13  and the smallest cylinder are of two-piece construction, those pieces may be attached by a threading means, snap connection, or any connection known within the art. Lower cap  13  has a substantially circular hole cut in it (not shown) in the center of lower cap  13  to receive the tube  22 . Additionally, one of ordinary skill would appreciate that the hole cut within lower cap  13  has a diameter that is similar to the diameter of the smallest cylinder attached to lower cap  13 . Lower cap  13  attaches to the engine or oil fill spout by means well known within the art such as, but not limited to, a threading means. 
     In order to attach lower cap  13  to the engine or oil fill spout, a user applies a clockwise rotation in order to fasten the lower cap  13  to the engine or oil fill spout. In an alternative embodiment, lower cap  13  might be attached to the engine or oil fill spout by means of a snap connection. 
     Attached to the top of the telescoping tube  11  is oil cap  16  by means of a conventional hinge (not shown). Oil cap  16  has a diameter similar to the diameter of telescoping tube  11  and when attached to the telescoping tube  11  in its collapsed state, oil cap  16  prevents oil from leaking out the top of the telescoping tube  11 . Attached to oil cap  16  is clip  14 , which is substantially rounded. The bottom half of clip  14  snaps over the latch  15  in order to hold the cap  16  to the tube  11 . Latch  15  is spring loaded, therefore, when a user desires to open oil cap  16 , the user depresses latch  15  which causes clip  14  to be released and the user opens oil cap  16 . Alternatively, clip  14  could be made resilient and latch  15  substantially rigid. 
     In other embodiments, oil cap  16  might be attached to telescoping tube  11  by means of a snap connection, utilizing anchoring clips, or threading means. If both the lower cap  13  and oil cap  16  are attached to their respective places by a threading means, when a user desires to remove, oil cap  16 , the user will apply a counter clockwise rotation to oil cap  16  to remove oil cap  16  from telescoping funnel  11 . The counter clockwise rotation allows for the oil cap  16  to be removed while not removing lower cap  13 . 
     FIG. 2 details the present invention  10  when it is in an upright, or expanded, position having telescoping funnel  11 , ball latches  12  and  23 , lower cap  13 , oil cap  16 , and cylinders  21  and  22 . In order for a user to expand the present invention  10  to its current form, a user applies an upward force on the present invention  10 . Since conical cylinder  22  is attached to lower cap  13  and lower cap  13  is attached to either the engine or oil fill spout, the user may do so since the present invention  10  is securely fastened. As previously stated, the diameter of telescoping funnel  11  is larger than the diameter of cylinder  21  and the diameter of cylinder  21  is larger than the diameter of cylinder  22 . When the present invention  10  is expanded and in an upright position, as shown in FIG. 2, telescoping funnel  11  and cylinders  21  and  22  form a water tight seal with each other. This watertight seal ensures that no oil will leak from the present invention while a user is adding oil to the vehicle. 
     Additionally, in other embodiments, the present invention could feature cloth, or felt, that could be placed on top of, and around, lower cap  13  for when the present invention is collapsed and oil residue does not drip onto the uncovered lower cap  13  and into the engine compartment. This cloth, or felt, could be constructed from any material known within art and be either natural or synthetic. Additionally, since the cloth, or felt, is removable, a user can replace it with a clean cloth, or felt, when the prior cloth, or felt, becomes dirty. 
     FIG. 3 details a partial sectional view of the present invention  10  having telescoping tube  11 , ball latch  12 , holes  17  and cylinder  21 . Telescoping tube  11  slides in the same plane as cylinder  21  and as the telescoping tube  11  moves upwards, eventually the ball latch  12  will penetrate lower hole  17  causing the present invention  10  to lock into place. Upper hole  17  is placed at the top of the telescoping tube  11  so that when the present invention  10  is compressed, it will lock into place. 
     Although the attachable oil funnel and the method of using the same according to the present invention has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention.