Abstract:
A device adapted to permit the cleaning of the dipstick employed to measure the oil level in engines, includes a support preferably of a metallic material adapted to hold and contain a pad of rubber, foam rubber, or other suitable materials, the oil-dipstick being within the pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that one of the controls which must be effected frequently and regularly in engines, of every type, such as automobiles, lorries or marine engines, of internal combustion or of Diesel type, is the control of the oil level, since, if the level of the lubricating oil is low, or positively below the minimum, the engine may undergo severe damages. It is known as well, however, that motorists are often reluctant to effect the control of oil level because it is a rather tiresome and messy operation. 
     On the other hand, presently available pneumatic devices for a few deluxe cars are unreliable, since the failure of a small accessory, which is rather delicate, might cause rather serious damages. 
     It is also to be noted that, because of the abovementioned drawbacks, most motorists entrust petrol station personnel with the control of the oil level, and these people do use rags to clean the measuring stick, these rags being oftentimes picked up from the ground. Dirt and grit is therefore likely to be introduced into the engine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a device adapted to allow the cleaning of the dipstick for the measurement of the oil level in engines, the cleaning operation obviating the abovementioned disadvantages. 
     The device of the present invention includes a pad of cleaning and lubricating-oil-resistant material, the pad resisting the occasional chemical additives which may be introduced into the oil sump in order to improve the lubrication and the efficiency of the engine. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are side and end elevational views of a device according to the invention; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 together with a container; 
     FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional, plan and detail views of a device and cleansing pad according to another embodiment; 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional and plan views of further embodiments according to the invention; 
     FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are part-sectional and plan views of still further embodiments; 
     FIG. 14 is a plan of a still further embodiment of the present device; 
     FIGS. 15 to 19 are side and plan views of the device in the form of a pair of pliers; and 
     FIGS. 20 to 26 show other variants according to the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device according to the present invention includes a pad 1 of a cleansing material centrally divided by a slit 2 and made integral with a metal support 3 or a support of other suitable material, having for example a triangular shape, and provided, at the apex, with a suitably pierced support 4, which allows the support to be anchored at any desired position in the engine compartment or the like. In order to achieve the cleansing action, it will suffice to insert the oil measuring dipstick (not shown) into the slit 2 and effect with the dipstick itself a vertical motion. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the device may be mounted on a small tank 20 provided with an emptying plug 21. 
     Many variations and modifications are made possible for the device according to the present invention, including both the pad and the measuring stick. In particular, FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a different type pad having a suitable support, and comprising a sequence of elements or members 31, 32, 33 and 34 which are preferably circular in shape, made of a cleansing material and provided, at the middle or central portion, with aligned holes having a progressively diminishing diameter starting from the upper disc 31 down to the lower disc 34, in such a way to form, in the upper portion of the buffer, a convenient facility for the insertion of the dipstick and, at the lower portion of the buffer itself, an efficient tool for the cleansing of the pad itself. 
     In FIG. 9 another arrangement is shown as having a support 22 provided with a longitudinal slot 21. A cleansing buffer 23 is mounted on the support by a holder 24 having a depending flange engaging slot 21. The buffer is centrally split as at 25 so that, with one hand, the operator simply moves the buffer to surround the dipstick D and pulls the dipstick through the buffer so as to wipe it clean. 
     An oil dipstick 9, shown in FIG. 10, is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and is provided with an appropriate tapering 10 which facilitates its insertion. 
     A handle 11 of the dipstick is provided with a reference mark (not shown) which serves to indicate the measuring and cleansing positions. 
     At the cleansing position, the dipstick is inserted into a U-shaped portion of hole 12 which is provided with a cleansing pad 13 which is kept in position by an appropriate elastic or screw-member 14. The measuring stick, therefore, when it is extracted from that position, is wiped perfectly clean. 
     The dipstick may thereafter be inserted into an opposite portion 15 of the &#34;U&#34; allowing the measurement of the oil level in the engine to take place, the dipstick thereby not being cleansed by the pad during this insertion. 
     In FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 a further embodiment is shown wherein the dipstick is halved into two vertical elements 16 and 17 which are inserted through jackets 18 and 19, the first of which is intended for the cleansing of the dipstick and is, therefore, provided with an appropriate buffer or pad 20, while the other jacket is intended for the measurement and is, therefore, free of any cleansing pad. 
     During the measurement and the extraction operation, one of the two dipstick elements 16 and 17 will exit clean from the pad 20; therefore, it will suffice to reinsert the measuring stick, rotated by 180° and re-extract it in order to get immediately, without getting soiled, an indication of the oil level. 
     FIG. 14 shows another embodiment according to the invention wherein a jacket 33 containing the measuring stick is provided, at its lower portion, with a cleansing pad 30, while at its upper portion it is provided with an appropriate handgrip 34. The operation mode of this device is very simple and practical. For cleansing the dipstick, it is necessary to pull a grip-ring 31 of the dipstick, so that the dipstick, sliding inside the jacket and in particular coming into contact with the pad 30, will be freed from the oil sticking to it. It is important to observe that the dipstick is prevented from exiting completely by the provision, at the lower end, of a check tongue 32 which, at the end of the pull stroke, will abut against the jacket 33. Therefore, by re-inserting the dipstick completely into the jacket 33 and extracting it by means of the handgrip 34, one gets, along the graduated end of the dipstick, the precise indication of the oil level. In order to tightly connect jacket 33 with a support fixed to the engine, but at the same time be extractable, a deformable elastic member 36 is provided which acts as a braking or cushioning element. 
     In order to render this device effective for any type of measuring stick, and therefore also for dipsticks of non-European cars, some modifications are provided for the device, which will allow for the cleansing of dipsticks of any shape. 
     FIG. 8 shows, for example, a modification of the device which includes pad sections 61 of cleansing material respectively connected to semicircular elements, 63 and 64, which are made of a metal or other suitable material. These elements are provided, at their ends, with two levers 65 and 66 which control the opening of elements 63 and 64, their closing taking place by means of suitable elastic members 67 which may be a spring or the like. In order to take an oil level measurement, dipstick 68 is extracted and is thereby cleansed by pad sections 61, arms 65 and 66 are moved toward one another for moving the pad sections apart to thereby prevent operation of the pad, the dipstick is reinserted and withdrawn so that the level of the oil can be read. 
     In FIG. 15 another modification is illustrated which allows the quick cleansing of measuring dipsticks having any desired shape or form, and which allows the device to be utilized even when a good portion of the pad is worn. As seen in FIG. 15, the device comprises pliers 40 which, on the end opposite the handgrip, are provided with two cleansing pads 41 and 42 secured to the jaws of the pliers. The utilization is very simple since it will suffice to place the dipstick between the two pads 41 and 42 and successively to clamp, by means of hand levers or grips 43 and 44, the pads themselves arround the measuring dipstick, while at the same time allowing the dipstick to slide. Such device according to the present invention is particularly useful when employed to effect high frequency of cleansing actions, as for example during use by service station personnel, since it achieves a faultless cleansing action, even if a pad or the pads are worn out. 
     Mainly for this type operation, an appropriate container may be provided, which is shown, together with the device, in the FIGS. 16, 17 and 18. The cleansing pliers can, indeed, by the provision of a support 45 shown in FIG. 17, be mounted on a container or reservoir 46, so that the oil dripping during the cleansing of the dipstick will fall into the container, thereby preventing the soiling of the floor. In such manner the oil, by the provision of an appropriate spout 47 on container 46, may be employed for small operations in which a lubricating action is needed. 
     In FIG. 19 a variant is shown which, though it utilizes the aforedescribed principles, presents a remarkable facility in carrying out the invention, together with a simple and safe use. The device includes a metal support 51 and a rubber pad 48 or the like mounted to an end of the support, the pad being provided with a center slit intended for the insertion of the dipstick. Support 51 is bent at right angles along opposite sides 49 for anchoring the pad in place and for stiffening the support itself, though it maintains the support itself sufficiently elastic. 
     And, a transversely extending retaining element 50 may be provided behind the pad for retaining it in place, element 50 likewise being capable of anchoring an oil-collecting tank to the support. For cleansing the dipstick, it is simply passed along the center slit of the pad while holding the handle portion of the support. 
     Furthermore, in order to anchor the device inside the hood of the engine, or in other suitable places, magnets or other anchoring means may possibly be used. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that the invention provides the user with a fitting or fixture which allows him to cleanse, without soiling the hands, the measuring stick for the oil level and which is extremely practical and easy to use, and is also inexpensive to produce and, therefore, may be offered at a very low selling price. 
     Further according to the invention, a cleansing cloth (FIGS. 20 and 21), having a suitable size, includes three layers: an external grid 70 which performs the dual task of cleansing the dipstick and retaining an intermediate layer 71 which is made of an absorbing material, particularly when the layer 71 is of a material which frays easily, thus requiring a containing support; and a layer 72 which is, on the contrary, impermeable, so that it will prevent the oil absorbed by the intermediate layer from precolating. 
     It is apparent that a dipstick-cleaner described above can be employed without any support, that is as a cloth, with the advantage that, since the external layer 72 is impermeable, it will prevent the oil removed from the dipstick from percolating and therefore soiling the hands. If, instead, the dipstick-cleaner is to be stored with the use of a magnet, for example, within the hood of the engine, it is feasible to insert the cloth within a suitably shaped support, as for example the support shown in FIG. 22, so that the dipstick may be inserted between the two faces 73 and 74 which, when folded against one another, will form an extremely reliable cleansing element. 
     In FIGS. 23 and 24 another embodiment is shown, wherein the cleansing fabric is formed as a small bag, so that it will be albe to internally receive a measuring dipstick, and it is provided, exteriorly, with an elastic support 83, which may be of plastic or steel or other suitable material, which, in the rest position, keeps the upper portion of the small bag closed or, depending on its shape, leaves a small opening, whereas, if squeezed at the apices 75 and 76 inwardly, it will open, as at 81, against the elastic action of support 83 or, owing to hinges 77 and 78, with which it is provided, it will assume an oval shape. 
     The operation is, in this case too, very simple, since it will suffice to insert the measuring dipstick within the bag, to press by one hand the bag around the dipstick and to extract the dipstick itself. And, if the device is to be anchored inside the hood of the engine, as with the use of a magnet, such may be provided for the aforedescribed. 
     FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate another device as including an upper cleansing portion 79, an upper support 84, elastic or non-elastic, which has a hole 81&#39; for insertion of the dipstick, and of a lower container or tank 80 apted to collect the oil which is removed from the dipstick, and provided with a discharge spout 82. 
     The operation is similar to that of the previously described dipstick-wiper (or dipstick-cleaner). For example, the dipstick to be cleaned is inserted into the hole 81&#39;, a portion of fabric 79 is pressed around the dipstick which is then extracted. 
     Fabric 79 may be of a non-absorbent material so as to render it more durable for use in service stations.