Abstract:
Rack system for supporting devices such as funnels, small and fluid containers to drain residual fluid after use. Residual fluid drains into a pan shaped collection device that may be filled with a layer of fluid absorbent material. Drain pans can be positioned on the system for draining residual fluid into the collection device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to supporting fluid transfer devices, e.g. funnels, small fluid containers e.g. quart bottles of motor oil, and drain pans for collecting residual fluids after the funnels have been used the drain pan has been emptied or fluids have been taken from the fluid containers.  
           [0002]    During normal servicing of a motor vehicle an oil change is usually performed. The spent oil is drained from the crank case of the motor into a collecting pan and then is transferred from the collecting pan to a large receptacle for disposal or recycling of the spent oil.  
           [0003]    After the service technician replaces the drain plug in the crank case fresh motor oil is introduced through the normal fill pipe using a funnel which may or may not have an extended spout. In most service shops the oil is provided in one quart containers, which are left inverted in the funnel for a period of time to attempt to drain any residual oil from the container into the crank case.  
           [0004]    As with most shops time is of the essence so that while the funnel is left to drain the majority of the oil into the crank case a very small amount of residual oil is left in the funnel that adheres to the sides of the funnel and will generally drip out of the funnel over a long period of time. Likewise, any residual oil adhering to the sides of the container will also take time to drain out of the container.  
           [0005]    If the funnel is placed on a work bench or hung through a handle on a tool cabinet oil can eventually drip onto the work surface or onto the floor causing a potential workplace hazard.  
           [0006]    A number of devices have been prepared to either support small fluid containers to transfer or drain residual fluids therefore. These are illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,207,993, 4,789,017, 5,222,534, 5,385,180 and 5,607,004. A sample funnel holder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 375,874.  
           [0007]    Therefore, there is needed a means to collect residual oil from containers, drain pans, funnels and the like for safe disposal and to prevent unsafe conditions in the workplace. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device or system of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a left elevational view of a device of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating use of the system of the present invention.  
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    The present invention provides a system for collecting residual fluids from funnels, fluid dispensing containers and spent fluid collecting devices, for recycle or safe disposal of the residual fluids.  
         [0013]    Therefore, in one aspect the present invention is a system for supporting fluid transfer, fluid dispensing or fluid catching devices comprising in combination; a base adapted to support a receptacle for collecting fluids from the transfer, dispensing and catching devices; first means disposed over the collecting receptacle to position one of small fluid containers or funnels so that when the containers or funnels are placed in the support means any fluid remaining in the containers or funnels can be collected in the collecting receptacle; and second means adapted to support a pan shaped fluid catching device over the receptacle in a manner to permit the catching device to drain residual fluids into the collecting receptacle.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Referring to FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as system or device  10 .  
         [0015]    System  10  includes a base portion  12  which has a generally triangular shape with curved vertical sides of the triangle as shown. The base  12  can be manufactured in any convenient shape consistent with the balance of the disclosure of the invention.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 base  12  has a generally triangular shaped vertical support  14  fixed at a right angle to base  12 . Positioned on base  12  and held by vertical support  14  is a generally hollow square prism shaped apparatus support section  16 . The term square prism as used here is such as defined on page 62 of the 24 th  Edition of the Machinery Handbook by Erik Oberg, Franklin D. Jones, Holbrook L. Horton and Henry Ryffel, published by Industrial Press Inc., New York.  
         [0017]    Support  16  has a pair of opposite generally wider faces  18 ,  20 , a pair of long narrow faces  22 ,  24  equal in length to faces  18 ,  20  and a pair of shorter narrow faces  26  and  28 .  
         [0018]    Shorter face  26  contains a plurality of apertures  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 , the function of which will be explained hereinafter.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 2 in addition to the apertures  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 , which may be the ends of tubular sections, faces  18  and  20  are provided with a pair of hook shaped supports  38  and  40 .  
         [0020]    As shown in FIG. 3 support  16  has a slotted or stepped portion  42  adjacent base  12  to receive a pan shaped receptacle as will hereinafter be more fully explained.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 4 the device  10  is shown with a plurality of various shaped funnels  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 , which may be placed in apertures  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  respectively. A fluid collection device or pan  58  is placed into the slotted aperture  42  on support  16  for positioning of the pan  58  underneath the spout portions of the funnels  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 . The collection pan  58  is placed in position or removed as shown by arrow  62 . Pan  58  may be empty or may contain a layer of a granular adsorbent material as is well known in the art. The funnels  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  will be held in a vertical position in order to drain any residual fluid into the pan  58  and thus prevent residual fluids from being spilled on work surfaces or floors of a shop. In addition to the device  10  positioning the funnels  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  a drain pan  60  can be positioned on the hook  38  or as shown on hook  40  so that residual fluids from the pan  60  also drain into the collection pan  58 .  
         [0022]    As can be seen from the foregoing disclosure and description, funnels, such as shown as  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 , containing residual fluids, e.g. oil, can be positioned on the device  16  so that residual fluids are captured in the collection pan  58  for safe disposal.  
         [0023]    In addition to the funnels shown, quart bottles such as used to contain and dispense motor oil can be placed in the various apertures to assure draining of the residual fluids from the bottles which are normally of a plastic material that is recycled.  
         [0024]    The device of the present invention is shown in the form that is convenient for manufacture and which can be fabricated from synthetic materials such as plastic. However, the device can be fabricated from any of conventional materials of construction, e.g., wood or metal.  
         [0025]    The particular shape of the apparatus can be varied for instance the base or base plate  12  can be square as can be the vertical support  14 . In a simple form the funnel support device can be a single cantilevered piece fastened to the vertical support  14  and the collection pan  58  need not be held by the vertical support  16  as shown in the drawing and described herein. The cantilevered support can also hold the drain pan  60 .  
         [0026]    Having thus described my invention what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is set forth in the appended claims.