Abstract:
An oil lift drain includes a molded plastic container with a projecting upward centerline spout connected by a hollow handle to the interior of the container. Two telescoping tubes are fitted within and project from the spout and include adjustable brackets or clamps. A funnel is supported on top of the adjustable tubes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect, the present invention comprises an oil lift drain, and more particularly, an oil lift drain having a container for collection of the oil discharged into telescoping tubes extending upwardly from the container and connected to a funnel that may be positional under an oil pan of a vehicle. 
     When servicing vehicles, such as automobiles and trucks, the mechanic often places the vehicle on a lift for access to the underside thereof. One of the service functions typical in this situation is evacuation of the oil pan of the vehicle. This is accomplished by removing the drain plug of the oil pan and collecting the oil as it drains from the pan in a container. It has been common practice to use oil lift drains to collect the oil. Oil lift drains typically comprise a container mounted on wheels with a projecting vertical tube supporting a funnel at the distal upper end. The funnel is placed underneath the open drain of the oil pan and diverts the used oil through the funnel into the descending tube and then into the collection container. Various designs of such oil lift drains have been available. Desirable features include easy adjustability, portability, and the capacity to be assembled and disassembled easily for shipment if necessary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention comprises an oil lift drain having a container with a horizontal cross sectional configuration that is generally rectangular with rounded edges, and more particularly, a horizontal cross sectional shape that is square with rounded edges. The container is made from a molded, plastic material and includes a vertically projecting nozzle from the top side with a hollow handle connecting from the nozzle to the inside of the container. Within the container is a special rib channel that coacts with a telescoping tube that fits into the container. The container is mounted on casters. First and second telescoping tubes project from the nozzle of the container vertically upward and support a funnel. The telescoping tubes may be adjusted at the site of use of the oil lift drain by means of a locking ring which fits around the upper tube and is supported by a bracket attached to the lower tube. 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved oil lift drain which may be easily packaged in a kit for transport to a service site. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved oil lift drain which includes vertical drain tubes that are easily adjusted. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an oil lift drain with a container that can be easily transported and from which collected fluid may be poured safely and easily. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an oil lift drain with a molded plastic container that includes bulging sides to prevent “oil canning” of the sides during filling and pouring from the container. 
     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 oil lift drain of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the container of the oil lift drain of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a first tube of the oil lift drain of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the hook or bracket and lock ring construction which is utilized to control telescopic extension of the tubes utilized in the oil lift drain of the invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of the bracket or hook and lock ring of FIG. 6; 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The oil lift drain of the invention is comprised of a number of separate component parts which may be placed in a typical rectangular, parallel piped shipping box. Thus, the oil lift drain includes a container  10  with a first tube  12  inserted into the container telescopically. A second, upper tube  14  is inserted into the first tube  12  and a funnel  16  is mounted on the second tube  14 . Casters or wheels  18  support the container  10  rendering it mobile. 
     A clamp  20  affixed to a nozzle  22  of container  10  may be tightened or loosened in order to adjust the telescopic position of the first tube  12 . A lock ring  24  which cooperates with a bracket or hook  26  mounted on the first tube  12  provides for telescopic adjustment of the second tube  14  within the first tube  12 . The funnel  16  includes a centered, cylindrical tubular outlet  28  which fits within the second tube  14  to thereby be retained in position by the tube  14 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  there is depicted in greater detail the construction of the container  10 . The container  10  has a generally rectangular, and more particularly, a generally square cross section in the horizontal plane with the corners thereof being generally rounded. This particular configuration of the container  10  enables the container to be more easily or more efficiently packed in a rectangular, parallelpiped packing box. The side of the packing box can thus fit against the lateral sides of the container  10 . For example, the container  10  includes lateral sides  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 . Those sides can be positioned against the sides of a rectangular, parallelpiped shipping box such as shown in phantom as box  38  in FIG.  4 . The container  10  further includes rounded corners such as corner  40 . In this manner, there is a space in the box  38  adjacent each rounded corner  40  into which a tube  12 , for example, may be packed for shipment. An exemplary position of the tube  12  is depicted in FIG.  4 . 
     The sides  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  of the container  10  are molded in a configuration in which they bulge outwardly. This precludes or helps prevent “oil canning” of the container walls  10  when the container  10  is being filled or emptied of fluid. The container  10  is typically made from a molded plastic material, for example, a high density polyethylene. The container  10  further includes a upwardly projecting vertical nozzle  22  having a center axis  42  for the container  10 . The construction of the container  10  is generally symmetrical about the axis  42 . The container  10  further includes a hollow handle  44  which is integrally molded with the container  10  and connects with the top surface  46  of the container  10  adjacent the wall  34  to a midpoint of the nozzle  22 . The handle  44  is hollow to enable release of air when pouring from the nozzle  22 . This precludes splashing and unwanted diversion of fluid as it flows from the nozzle  22 . The top  46  of the container  10  further includes a spigot  48  with a cap  50  that may be threadably attached thereto. The bottom of the container  10  is especially formed or shaped to receive casters or wheels  18  and includes a hand held model there in. Thus, pad sections  52  are molded about the periphery of the container  10  adjacent corners such as corner  40 . The pad sections  52  each include a rib  54  which extends radially inward from pad  52  toward axis  42 . The rib  54  is positioned in combination with each of the pads or pad sections  52  and provides reinforcement of the bottom wall  56  of the container  10  thereby increasing the rigidity of the container  10 . The bottom wall  56  is bulged inwardly and upwardly along axis  44  and includes a channel  59  molded therein. The channel  59  as depicted in FIG. 2 is positioned to support the bottom end of first tube  12  so that liquid flowing into the container  10  through the tube  12  will have a pathway to fill the container  10 . 
     The nozzle  22  extends upwardly and receives the cylindrical tube  12 . The cylindrical tube  12  includes the hook  26  attached at the upper end thereof as depicted in FIG.  5 . The tube  12  may further include a check valve  58  therein. The check valve  58  is provided to preclude back flow of fluid draining downwardly through the tube  12 . The check valve  58  is an optional feature. 
     The second tube  14  slidably telescopes within the first tube  12 . The second tube  14  is likewise a hollow cylindrical tube. The bracket  26  supports a ring  24 . The ring  24  is in the shape of an annular washer and includes an inner diameter which is greater than the diameter of the second tube  14  so that the second tube  14  may easily slide within the ring  24 . The ring  24  thus fits around the tube  14 . One outer edge  60  of the ring  24  fits within a recess or slot  62  of the bracket  26 . The recess  62  is shaped to permit the ring  24 , by virtue of gravity, to cant downwardly so that the inner edge  66  of the annular ring  24  can engage against the outer surface of tube  14  and preclude its movement downward. Pulling upwardly on the tube  14 , however, releases the edge  66  therefrom and permits upward adjustment of the upper tube  14  within the lower tube  12 . This upward adjustment may be effected by one hand motion and movement of the tube  14  axially upward. To move the tube  14  downwardly within the tube  12 , an operator must manually grip the outer edge of the ring  24  and lift that outer edge thereby releasing the engagement of edge  66  with tube  14  and permitting downward adjustment. 
     The bracket  26 , and in particular, the shape of the notch therein insures a limited range of movement of the ring so as to effect the locking feature thereof. It is to be noted that the ring  24  may be rotated around the axis  44  so as to expose a sharpened edge  66  of the ring  24  to engage the outer surface of tube  14 . It is to be noted that the tubes  12  and  14  are cylindrical and that the edges of the tubes  12 , 14  are perpendicular to the axis  44  and are not canted or cut at an angle in the embodiment. 
     There has been described a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood there are certain variations that may be effected while still remaining within the scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.