Patent Publication Number: US-2022212322-A1

Title: Reduced Drip Filter Removal Tool

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/449,254 filed Jun. 21, 2019 which claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/689,209 filed on Jun. 24, 2018, both of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to a tool for removing a filter and the contents of the filter while reducing or preventing the contents of the filter from dripping or leaking in an uncontrolled manner. 
     2) Description of the Related Art 
     Mechanical devices with moving parts such as engines include fluids as a component of their operation. For example, oil can serve as a lubricant for moving mechanical parts to reduce friction and prolong operational life of these parts. This fluid is typically filtered to prevent debris from building up in the engine and extending operational life. As these fluids age, including oil, their effectiveness is reduced and is typically changed. The filter associated with the fluid system is also changed contemporaneously with the fluid change. 
     It is recommended that these filters be replaced periodically. For safety reasons, the filter and contents are allowed to cool prior to the removal of the filter, changing oil and replacement of the filter. For example, in a passenger automobile, standard operating temperatures for oil exceeds 220° F., well above the temperature to burn human skin, which can be as low as 110° F. Therefore, it is prudent to wait until the oil is sufficiently cooled prior to changing the filter and oil. Based upon the ambient temperature, this can be 30 mins or more. For commercial services that provide fast oil changes, they must risk injury with hot oil to meet customer demands for timely oil changes. 
     Further, oil is difficult to clean when spilled due to its very nature, it provides a coating on the surface of which it contacts. This coating, resulting from a spill, can cause disadvantages such as fluid spills on vehicles, workers and the working environment. Additionally, oil spills can pose a safety hazard by creating an undesirable slick surface on the vehicle or in the working environment. Further, undesirable oil in an engine compartment can make it difficult to isolate and repair leaks, can accelerate the wear of rubber hoses and plastic parts and can reduce the aesthetics resulting in a lower vehicle valuation. Further, there is some evidence that when oil is removed from the engine compartment, the engine runs cooler as the dirt buildup that can occur due to unnecessary oil can reduce the heat exchange between the engine and the surrounding environment. In some cases, oil buildup creates hot spots in the engine shortening the engine life. Further, oil in the engine compartment can migrate into other areas such as air filters. 
     Filters come is several varieties. One such filter is a cannister filter that can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,452. This cannister type filter includes a polygonal in cross section at a lower end that includes a plurality of flat sides for engaging a tool that can be used to receive the cannister type filter, engaged with the flat sides and assist with turning (e.g. unscrewing) the cannister filter from the fluid system. The problem created is that when the canister type filter is removed from the fluid system fluid can leak from around the top of the cannister type filter and unwantedly spill on the ground, on the user, or other undesirable areas. This is especially a disadvantage with canister type filters with a threaded portion that engages with a corresponding threaded portion of the fluid system. In operation, these filters are full of fluid that is being filtered so that when they are removed, the fluid tends to escape from the filter into undesirable areas. Most engine designs place fluid, such as oil, in the filter even when the engine is off so that removal of filter inevitably requires managing the fluid in the filter. 
     As stated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,823, removal of such a canister type filter can be a messy task which has been exacerbated by manufacturer&#39;s placing these filters in areas that are difficult to access. Therefore, the problem of spilling fluid is magnified by the current designs of mechanical systems such as automobiles. An attempt to remove the fluid from the filter is shown in this reference. However, there is no ability to remove the filter itself and the punch must be removed from the filter prior to a filter wrench being applied to the filter. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for an integrated fluid drainage tool and removal tool for filters. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide for a fluid drainage tool that prevent or eliminates contact with hot fluid. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The above objectives are accomplished by providing a filter removal tool comprising: a cup configured to engage with a filter so that rotating the cup rotates the filter; a shaft having a bore and extending through the cup at a proximal end of the cup; a puncture cap removably attached to the shaft and configured to be received in the cup and to puncture the filter when the shaft transitions from a first position to a second position; a lateral puncture cap opening defined in the puncture cap in fluid communication with the bore; and, a removal tool portion carried by the cup configured to receive a rotational tool for rotating the cup. The rotational tool can be any tool configured to rotation the cup. 
     The tool can include an impact member attached to a proximal end of the shaft having an impact member opening defined in the impact member in fluid communications with the puncture cap. The tool can include a lower portion included in the cup for receiving the puncture cap when the shaft is in the first position. The tool can include a seal disposed between a base of the puncture cap and the interior wall of the lower portion of the cup. The tool can include a puncture cap seal disposed above a base of the puncture cap and configured to engage with the filter when the shaft is in the second position. Magnets can be disposed in the cup for removably securing the wrench to the filter. A stop can be included in the puncture cap to arrest the puncture cap from fully penetrating the filter. 
     The tool can include a cup configured to engage with a filter so that rotating the cup rotates the filter; a puncture cap carried by a shaft can be configured to be received in the cup and to puncture the filter when the shaft transitions from a first position to a second position; and, a lateral puncture cap opening defined in the puncture cap configured to allow fluid to flow from the cup to a proximal end of the cup. The tool can include a tool removal portion defined in a lower portion of the cup configured to receive a tool, such as a socket, open wrench, boxed wrench or the like for rotating the cup. The shaft can be removably connected to the puncture cap. A second cap opening can be configured to receive the puncture cap in a first position. A puncture cap base can be included in the puncture cap and configured to engage with an inner wall of the second cap opening. 
     The tool can include a cup configured to receive a portion of a filter; a puncture cap carried by the cup and configured to puncture the filter to allow fluid to flow from the filter, through the puncture cap and out the cup; and, an opening defined in the puncture cap configured to allow fluid to flow from the filter out the cup. The tool can include a shaft carried by the puncture cap having a bore in fluid communications with an interior of the cup. The tool or cup can be configured to prevent fluid from flowing from the filter when the puncture cap is in the second position. 
     The puncture cap and shaft can be configured to slide within the cup between a first and second position so that when a force is applied to the impact member, a puncture end of the puncture cap punctures the filter allowing fluid to escape from the filter, through the puncture cap, the shaft, and out the cup or shaft. The tool can include a plurality of openings disposed laterally around the puncture cap in fluid communication with the bore in the shaft. The invention can be configured to be assembled with a variety of different sized cups so that different sized filters can be removed. The diameter of the impact member can be less than the diameter of an engagement portion of a rotational tool. The impact member can be configured to be received on a tool that can be used to rotate the cup. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1C  are schematics of various aspects of the tool; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an aspect of the tool; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of aspects of the tool; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of aspects of the tool; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of aspects of the tool; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an aspect of the tool; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross section of various aspects of the tool; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are perspective view of an aspect of the tool; 
         FIG. 8A  is an elevated view of an aspect of the tool; 
         FIG. 8B  is an elevated view of an aspect of the tool; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of aspects of the tool, 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of aspects of the tool, 
         FIG. 11  is an elevated view of aspects of the tool, and, 
         FIG. 12  is a top-down view of aspects of the tool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. Referring to  FIG. 1A , the removal tool  10  is shown having a shaft  12  that has a bore  14  running lengthwise along the shaft with a shaft top opening  16 . An impact member  18  can be attached to the proximal end of the shaft and include an impact member opening  20 . In one embodiment, the shaft can include a threaded portion  22  at a distal end of the shaft. 
     The shaft can be received into a wrench  24  through a first cup opening  26 . The wrench can include a tool removal portion  28  allowing a rotational tool to engage the wrench allowing the wrench to be turned with a rotational tool such as a socket, open wrench, closed wrench or other tool configured to rotation the cup. The wrench can include a cup  30  for engaging with a filter  31  that can include one or more flat portions  32  on an interior wall of the cup and can circumvent the interior of the cup. These flat portions can engage filter flat portions  33  allowing the filter to rotate when the cup is rotated. Magnets can be disposed along the interior wall of the cup or on the floor of the cup to temporarily secure the cup to a filter. 
     A puncture cap  34  can be received in a second cup opening  36  and can be removably attached to the shaft. The puncture cap can include a puncture end  38  that can puncture a filter. Lateral puncture cap openings  40  can be disposed under the puncture end so that fluid can flow through the puncture cap opening, into the core of the shaft, and out the impact member opening. A puncture cap base  42  can be included in the puncture cap and received into a portion of the cup. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , the puncture cap, attached to the shaft, is receiving into the wrench in a first position so that a portion of the puncture end  38  can be disposed below the cup floor  44 . In this position, the shaft  12  is extended away from the cup a distance  39 . The puncture cap base can engage with the interior wall of the lower portion  68  of the cup so that fluid escaping from the filter cannot escape through the cup opening. When force is applied to the impact member  18 , the puncture cap is forced into an area defined by the cup as shown in  FIG. 1C . In this second position, the puncture cap can puncture the filter creating an opening in the filter allowing the fluid in the filter to escape into the cup. In the second position, the puncture cap can press against the filter preventing oil from escaping from the filter. When the puncture cap is then placed in the first position, fluid can escape the filter, travel through the puncture cap opening through the shaft and out the impact member opening. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an impact member  18  is attached to a shaft  12  that include a bore running along the length of the shaft. The impact member can have an impact member opening in fluid communications with the bore of the shaft. The impact member opening can be a central opening extending through the impact member. The shaft can include a threaded portion  22  allowing the shaft to be removably connected to a puncture cap  34 . The puncture cap can include a puncture case base  42  having a base diameter. The puncture cap can include a plurality of openings that allow fluid to flow through the openings, into the puncture cap and into the bore of the shaft. The puncture cap in one embodiment, can include a washer, O-ring, or other seal disposed on the top of the puncture cap base or around its perimeter to eliminate or reduce the amount of fluid that escapes between the puncture cap and the wrench. A puncture end  38  can be included in the puncture cap that, when forced into the housing of a filter, causes fluid to escape from the filter, through the central level opening, through the bore, and out the impact member. The largest diameter of the puncture end can be about the same diameter as that of the central level. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the puncture end  38  is shown extending into a wrench  24 . The tip of the puncture end can be flush with the cup floor  44  of the cup when the filter is received into the cup. The flat sides of a filter can engage with the filter allowing the filter to be rotated when the wrench is rotated. When the filter is received in the cup, force can be applied to the impact member causing the impact member to penetrate the filter creating an opening allowing fluid to escape form the filter, into the bore of the shaft, and out the opening in the impact member. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , the impact member is shown adjacent to the wrench in the second position. The impact member can have a diameter that is less than that of a tool removal portion  28  allowing a rotational tool such as a socket  46 , open wrench  47 , closed wrench or another tool to be used to rotate the wrench. The impact member can be received in the socket allowing a socket wrench to be used to remove the filter. An open wrench or closed wrench or another tool can be used to rotate the wrench to remove the filter. Referring to  FIG. 4B , the impact member is shown in the first position with the shaft visibly extending from the bottom of the wrench. Force is applied generally in direction  48  to area  50  causing the puncture end to puncture the filter allowing fluid to escape the filter and escape through the impact member opening  20 . The wrench can then be placed in the first position to facilitate fluid being removed from the filter. Once the fluid is removed, the wrench can be placed in the second position for removal of the filter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the puncture cap is shown having a conical puncture end  23  that is disposed on a puncture cap stop  52 . The puncture cap stop prevents the entire puncture cap from extending into the filter as the puncture cap stop contacts the wall of the filter arresting the puncture cap&#39;s movement into the filter. When the puncture cap is removed form the shaft, the wrench can be disposed between the impact member and the puncture cap and the shaft allowing the wrench to move along the shaft. An O-ring or other seal can be disposed around the side  54  of the base or the puncture cap. The bore can be 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a cross section of the removal tool is shown in one embodiment. The cup  30  is placed on the filter  31  so the flutes of the wrench can engage with flat portions of the filter. The puncture cap is received in the cup in the first position  56  so that the puncture end  38  does not puncture the filter. Once the filter is received in the cup, force is applied to the impact member forcing the puncture cap into the second position  58  allowing the puncture end to puncture the filter. Fluid from the filter can then travel along fluid path  60  and out the impale member. A puncture cap seal  61  can be included that can engaged with the filter when the wrench is in the second position to prevent fluid from escaping the filter. When the wrench is placed on the first position, fluid can then escape the filter into the cup. An O-ring  62  or other seal can be disposed between the cup and the puncture cap. In one configuration the puncture end can puncture the filter between a biasing member  64  of the filter  31  and the filter material  66  itself is not punctured. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the proximal end of the wrench can include a lower portion  68  that can include a flat sided portion  72  that can be configured to engage a rotational tool. The lower portion can include a recess defined to receive the puncture cap  34  and the puncture end  38 . Magnets can be disposed on side walls  77   a  or floor  77   b  of the cup to retain the cup on the filter. This can assist with holding the cup on the filter when applying force on the impact element. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the puncture end  38  is shown. The puncture cap includes lateral puncture cap opening  40  in fluid communications with a lower puncture cap opening  41 . The diameter of the puncture cap base  42  can be greater than the diameter of the lateral puncture cap opening section so that fluid can flow from the filter to the lower puncture cap opening without traveling around the puncture cap base. The puncture cap seal  61  can be disposed between the lateral puncture cap opening portion and the filter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the impact member  18  can include a recess portion  78  that can fully or partially surround the impact member. The recess position can provide for one or more edges  80  to assist with gripping the impact member to move the shaft between its positions. The impact member can also include extension that extend circumferentially or laterally from the impact member to assist with gripping the impact member. The impact member can also include a textured surface to assist with gripping the impact member. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the removal tool  10  is shown having a shaft  12  that is received into the cup  30 . The shaft is slidable in the cup so that the puncture cap  34  can be received into a cup recess  82  preventing the puncture cap from puncturing a filter when the cap is attached to the filer. An impact member  18  can be attached or included in the shaft. In one embodiment, the shaft can include a threaded portion  22  at a distal end of the shaft to secure the shaft to the puncture cap. In one embodiment, the shaft and the puncture cap are a single piece. 
     The puncture cap can include vanes  84  that allow fluid to flow from the filter around the puncture cap and into the cup. The fluid can exit the cup through a drain opening  86 . The drain opening can be positioned at a low point so that gravity causes the fluid to flow outward from the cup without flowing across the lower portion  88  of the cup. The shaft can be received into the cup and lower portion through a first cup opening  26 . In one embodiment the puncture cap and shaft do not include opening so that fluid doe snot flow into the puncture cap or the shaft. When the impact member is contacted, the puncture cap penetrated the outer casing of the filter, creating an opening in the filter and allowing fluid to flow from the filter into the cup. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the cup is shown on connection with a filter that does not have flutes. In this embodiment, the cup can be removable attached to the filter with a collet assembly  90  that can include dimples, extensions, ridges, teeth, protrusions, and any combination. The collet assembly can be disposed on an interior wall of the cup. When the cup is placed on the filter  31 , one or more ridges  90  engage the filter so that when the cup is rotated, the filter is rotated and can be removed. The ridges can be radially disposed around the interior wall of the cup. The puncture cap then be used to puncture the filter and fluid can flow from the filter through the puncture cap, through a shaft attached to the puncture cap, through an opening in a lower portion of the cap, an opening in the cap  86 , the shaft  14  and any combination. The cup can include a flange  98  that is wider than a dimeter lower in the cup to asset in placement of the cup on the filter. 
     In one embodiment, a pin  92  can be placed through the cup, such as through pin opening defined in the cup, and contact or penetrate the filter. The pin can arrest movement between the filter and the cup so that when the cup is rotated, the filter rotates and can be removed. The pin can contact the filter, extend into the filter or filter penetrate the filter. The pin can be used to secure the filter to the cup prior to, during or after fluid flows out of the filter. In one embodiment, the pin can include pin lateral openings  96  allowing fluid to flow into the pin and out through the pin bore  94  allowing fluid to flow from an interior of the cup through the pin and out of the cup. The pin can include an opening at a distal end, in one embodiment. The pin can be slidable attached to the cup, removable attached to the sup and any combination. 
     The cup can include a threated portion  99  that can be used to attach a drain tube to the cup. In one embodiment, the picture cap can be attached to the cup so that when the impact member is contacted, the picture cap penetrates the filter allowing fluid to flow from the filter, into or around the puncture cap, through a lower portion of the cup, out of the cup and into a tube that can be removeable connected to the cup. In this embodiment, the cup is placed on the filter and can be held against the filter by friction, ridges, teeth, gasket, magnet or other means, the puncture cap forced into the filter to penetrate the filter, the tube connected to the cup so that when fluid flows from the filter, it flows into the tube. When the filter is drained, the tube can be removed, and the cup rotated to remove the filter. The tube can be attached to receive fluid from the lower portion of the cup or from another opening such as opening  86 . In one embodiment, a clip can be fitted over the end of the shaft or impact member that can include a fitting for configuring the cup to carry a polymer tube. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the cup can include teeth  100  disposed around the interior wall of the cup. The teeth can be angled so that the teeth engage the filter when the cup is rotated to remove the filter and slide along the filter when the cup is rotated in a direction used to install a filter. 
     It is understood that the above descriptions and illustrations are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. Other embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventor did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.