Abstract:
An apparatus for receiving a fluid, such as degraded oil, from an oil filter to be replaced, removably mounted on an engine, during removal of the oil filter, the apparatus including a housing defining a receptacle adapted to receive the fluid; and a securing member mounted on the housing for releasibly attaching the housing to the oil filter in receiving relation to the fluid during removal of the oil filter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for receiving a fluid and, more particularly, to such an apparatus which has particular utility in capturing a fluid for subsequent disposal, processing, or other such usage during the performance of a procedure wherein such fluid is present.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0006]    A variety of environments exist in which a procedure must be performed without the benefit of adequately controlling all of the conditions involved in performing that procedure. These circumstances arise, for example, in the servicing, maintenance and repair of mechanical devices such as machinery, automotive vehicles, aircraft, boats, and virtually all types of equipment composed of a plurality of systems and subsystems. This is particularly true where such systems and subsystems contain fluids of various types which must, from time to time, be replaced or processed.  
           [0007]    Thus, in the case of, for example, internal combustion engines, lubricating systems have oil filters which must, from time to time, be replaced as well as the lubricating oil from the systems. The positioning of the oil filter is dependent upon the particular design of the engine and may be in virtually any attitude between, for example, an attitude in which the oil filter is removable downwardly along an axis which is substantially vertical, to an oil filter which is removable along an axis varying therefrom to one which must be removed along a substantially horizontal axis.  
           [0008]    In all of these instances, the oil would first be drained from the subsystem before removal of the oil filter. However, even after intentional removal of oil from the subsystem, residual oil remains in the subsystem as well as the oil filter itself. Accordingly, in the typical arrangement for the subsystem, the oil filter must be removed from the engine along an axis varying from substantially downwardly along a vertical axis through a range of possible positions to and including a path of movement along a substantially horizontal axis. Irrespective of the attitude along which the oil filter must be removed, residual degraded oil within the subsystem drains gravitationally from the subsystem of the engine so as typically to create a spill of the residual degraded oil. This may only constitute a nuisance. However, it may also contaminate the area involved creating environmental concerns. At very least, it may create an unsightly condition while spilling upon the person and tools of the person performing the operation.  
           [0009]    Therefore, it has long been known that it would be desirable to have an apparatus for receiving a fluid which was operable to contain fluids released during service, maintenance and other modification or adjustment of mechanical devices; which is particularly well suited for use in the servicing, maintenance and other attention to mechanical devices, particularly where such mechanical devices employ systems and subsystems containing fluids to be replaced, processed, or initially charged in the system or subsystem; which is unusually well suited to use in such processes relative to the removal and installation of filters, such as oil filters, on internal combustion engines wherein residual fluids within the internal combustion engine and filter may interfere with the operation to be performed; which operates to avoid the nuisance and possibly hazardous or damaging consequences of such residual fluids in the maintenance of the mechanical device involved; which is entirely compatible with the existing systems and subsystems involved as well as the procedures normally performed without in any way detracting from the procedures normally involved; and which is otherwise entirely successful in achieving its operational objectives.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for receiving a fluid which operates to control the flow of fluids during a wide variety of work operations.  
           [0011]    Another object is to provide such an apparatus which has application to a wide variety of operative environments wherein it is desirable to control the release and containment as well as discharge of fluids associated with the operation involved.  
           [0012]    Another object is to provide such an apparatus which has particular utility in the manufacture, servicing, maintenance and other handling of mechanical devices without detracting from the primary intentions of the operations involved.  
           [0013]    Another object is to provide such an apparatus which operates selectively to retain residual fluid in a reservoir for subsequent disposal, processing or reuse while permitting the operation to be performed to continue unabated by such discharge.  
           [0014]    Another object is to provide such an apparatus which is unusually well suited to the manufacture, servicing, maintenance or other handling of mechanical devices, such as internal combustion engines, by affording the opportunity for such operations to continue without interference from substances such as fluids involved in such operations.  
           [0015]    Another object is to provide such an apparatus which is unusually well suited in the servicing of internal combustion engines, and the like, wherein an oil filter or other fluid system filter, is to be removed and replaced in conjunction with the replacement of the fluid of the subsystem involved, and, under such conditions, wherein the attitude of the oil filter involved is such that drainage of residual fluid from the subsystem may interfere with the operation and otherwise creates conditions which constitute a nuisance, a hazardous condition, or simply a resulting condition requiring cleanup, abatement of a hazard, or any number of further work operations which exacerbate the consequences of the primary work operation involved.  
           [0016]    Another object is to provide such an apparatus which can be employed to remove the oil filter, or the like, from the internal combustion engine, or the system or subsystem being handled, while containing to fluid released therefrom for subsequent handling.  
           [0017]    Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purpose described which is dependable, economical, durable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
           [0018]    These and other objects and advantages are achieved, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in an apparatus for receiving a fluid having a housing defining a receptacle adapted to receive said fluid from a source of said fluid; and a member for releasibly attaching the housing to a source of said fluid in receiving relation thereto. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for receiving a fluid of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus for receiving a fluid of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus for receiving a fluid of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in a typical operative environment.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus for receiving a fluid of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in a typical operative environment.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line  5 - 5  in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    The apparatus for receiving a fluid of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and  5  of the drawings and is generally identified by the numeral  10  in those views.  
         [0025]    The apparatus for receiving a fluid of the second embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral  20  in FIGS. 2 and 4.  
         [0026]    For illustrative convenience, the apparatus for receiving a fluid of the first embodiment  10  and second embodiment  20  are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in environments in which an oil filter is to be removed from an internal combustion engine. Within the illustrative environment, as shown in FIG. 3 relative to the apparatus  10  of the present invention, and in FIG. 4 relative to the apparatus  20 , the apparatuses of the two embodiments hereof are shown in typical operative conditions.  
         [0027]    With respect to FIG. 3 and the apparatus  10  of the first embodiment of the present invention, an internal combustion engine is fragmentarily shown and generally indicated by the numeral  30  therein. The internal combustion engine has an engine housing  31  having an outer surface  32  and a lower surface  33 . An oil filter mount  34  is formed in the lower surface  33  of the engine housing  31  and, it will be understood as shown therein, the oil filter mount  34  is adapted to receive an oil filter of a conventional type, screw threadably received therein along an axis which is substantially vertical and substantially right angularly related relative to the lower surface  33  of the engine housing.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 4, relative to the apparatus for receiving a fluid  20  of the second embodiment of the present invention, an internal combustion engine has been fragmentarily shown and generally indicated by the numeral  40 . The internal combustion engine has an engine housing  41  having an outer surface  42  with a substantially downwardly facing surface  43 . An oil filter mount  44  is mounted in the downwardly facing surface  43  of the engine housing  41 , as shown in FIG. 4. The oil filter mount is disposed to receive an oil filter for installation and removal substantially along a vertical axis, as shown therein.  
         [0029]    For illustrative convenience in FIG. 3 in relation to the apparatus  10  of the first embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is shown with an oil filter generally indicated by the numeral  50 , as viewed therein. The oil filter  50  has a body  51  and will be understood to be a conventional oil filter for purposes of the illustrative environment. The oil filter  50  shown in FIG. 3 is of conventional construction having a body  51  bearing a lower end portion  52  and an opposite upper end portion  53 . The oil filter  50  has an outer surface  54  which is of a generally cylindrical configuration. The oil filter  50  has a substantially concavo-convex lower surface  55  and an opposite upper surface  56 .  
         [0030]    The lower end portion  52  of the oil filter  50  has a gripping surface  60  extending about the outer surface  54  thereof. The upper surface  56  of the oil filter has seals  61  mounted thereon for fluid sealing engagement with the engine housing  31 . The seals  21  define a sealing surface  62 .  
         [0031]    In the case of the second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention  20 , the lower end portion  52  of the oil filter  50  of the oil filter of the second embodiment  20  of the present invention has different gripping surface than in the case of apparatus  10 . The gripping surface of apparatus  20  is not conventional and is novel, as hereinafter described. The gripping surface preferably has a plurality of arcuate slots  63  formed therein, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. In the representative example, there are five (5) such arcuate slots spaced substantially equidistantly about the outer surface  54  of the lower end portion  52  of the body  51  of the oil filter  50 . Each of the arcuate slots  63  constitutes a slot or groove which does not extend through the outer wall of the oil filter, but rather is a recess so configured and positioned as to permit the operation hereinafter to become more clearly apparent. For purposes of illustrative convenience, it will be understood that each arcuate slot  63  has an entrance end portion  64 , a sloped first segment  65  and an arcuately downwardly curved portion  66  ending in a terminal end  67 . Each entrance end portion  64  of each arcuate slot  63  extends through the lower surface  55  so as thereby to form an entrance to its respective arcuate slot.  
         [0032]    As previously noted, the first embodiment  10  of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and  5  of the drawings. The apparatus  10  has a housing or container  70  having, generally, a lower end portion  71 , and an opposite upper end portion  72 . The container has a cylindrical wall  73  having an outer cylindrical surface  74 , an upper peripheral edge  75  and an interior cylindrical surface  76 . The container  70  has a solid lower end wall  80 , having a substantially flat interior surface  81  and a parallel, substantially flat exterior surface  82 . In the case of container  70  of the first embodiment, preferably three (3) magnets are mounted on the interior cylindrical surface  76  adjacent to the upper peripheral edge  75  and in equally spaced relation thereto. The magnets are mounted in spaced relation to each other about the interior cylindrical surface  76 . The magnets are preferably disposed in equally spaced relation. Each magnet has an interiorly facing, substantially flat surface  84  and a sloped upper surface  85 . The spacing of the interior surfaces  84  of the magnets  83  is such that an oil filter  50  can slidably be received within the container  70  in slidable engagement with the interior surfaces of the magnets. The relationship is such that the magnets thereby engage and are magnetically attracted to the outer surface  54  of the oil filter. The container  70  is thereby magnetically mounted on the oil filter while being freely releasable therefrom when desired by overcoming the magnetic attraction thereof. The interior cylindrical surface  76  of the container  70  extends to an upper interior edge  91 , as shown in FIG. 5. The interior cylindrical surface defines a chamber  92  extending to a mouth  93  at the upper end portion  72  of the container, for purposes hereinafter to be described. The container  70  is shown in a work position  101  in FIG. 3.  
         [0033]    The second embodiment of the apparatus  20  of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The apparatus  20  has a housing or container  170  having, generally, a lower end portion  171 , and an opposite end portion  172 . The container has a cylindrical wall  173  having an outer cylindrical surface  174 , an upper peripheral edge  175  and an interior cylindrical surface  176 .  
         [0034]    The container  170  has a lower end wall  180  having an interior surface  181  and an opposite exterior surface  182 . Five (5) interlocking members or pins are mounted on the interior cylindrical surface  176  of the container  170 . The pins are mounted in positions individually corresponding to the entrance end portions  64  of the arcuate slots  63  of the oil filter  50 , as shown in FIG. 2. The pins are dimensioned slidably individually to be received in the entrance end portions  64  of the arcuate slots and, by pushing the container  170  toward the oil filter, to follow their respective arcuate slots to their respective terminal end portions as the container  170  and oil filter are adjusted about their respective longitudinal axes to accommodate the travel of the pins in their respective arcuate slots. Once the pins travel through the curved portions  66  of their respective arcuate slots and reach the terminal ends  67  of the arcuate slots, the container  170  and oil filter are interlocked. They can be disengaged by reversing this process.  
         [0035]    The interior cylindrical surface  176  of the container  170  extends to an upper interior edge  191 . The interior cylindrical surface defines a chamber  192  extending to a mouth  193 . The container  170  is shown in a work position  201  in FIG. 2.  
       Operation  
       [0036]    The operation of the described embodiments of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. For illustrative convenience, the apparatus  10  and the apparatus  20  of the two embodiments of the present invention are described substantially simultaneously herein.  
         [0037]    In the illustrative environment, the work operation to be performed is the removal of the oil filter  50  from the oil filter mount  34  and  44  of the internal combustion engines  30  and  40  shown respectively in FIGS. 3 and 4. After draining the used or degraded oil from the engine through a drain opening by means not shown, the apparatus  10  and the apparatus  20  are moved to their respective work positions  101  and  201  shown respectively in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0038]    Thus, in the case of the apparatus  10 , the container  70  is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 3, but with the oil filter in the attached position in the oil filter mount  34 . In this work position  101 , the container  70  is slidably fitted about the oil filter, either in engagement with, or near engagement with, the lower surface  33  of the engine housing  31  so as to expose the mouth  93  of the chamber  92  to residual oil received during removal of the oil filter.  
         [0039]    Similarly, in the case of apparatus  20  of the present invention, the container  170  is moved to the work position  201  shown in FIG. 4 in which the chamber  205  is disposed on, and extending beneath, the oil filter  50  in position to receive residual oil released during removal of the oil filter.  
         [0040]    Thereafter, in the case of both of the apparatuses  10  and  20 , the oil filter  50  is removed from the oil filter mount  34  in the case of apparatus  10 , and  44  in the case of apparatus  20 . Residual oil flowing gravitationally from the oil filter itself or from the oil filter mount  34  or  44  is gravitationally received in the chamber  92  of apparatus  10  or the chamber  192  of the apparatus  20  so that no residual oil is released to the environment, or spilled on the operator.  
         [0041]    In the case of apparatus  10 , the residual oil is captured within the chamber  92 . Subsequently, the operator can discharge the residual oil both from the oil filter and from the chamber  92  through the mouth  93  of the apparatus  10  simply by tipping the container so as to pour the residual oil therefrom into a suitable receptacle for disposal, reuse or the like.  
         [0042]    In the case of apparatus  20 , the residual oil is similarly deposited in a suitable container for subsequent disposal, reuse, processing or the like.  
         [0043]    In the case of the apparatus  10 , magnetic engagement of the magnets  83  with the outer surface  54  of the oil filter  50  permits the container  70  to be employed, in effect, as a wrench screw-threadably to remove the oil filter  50  from the oil filter mount  34 . In the case of apparatus  20 , the interlock of the pins  183  of the container  170  in the arcuate slots  63  of the oil filter  50  permits the container  170  similarly to be used, in effect, as a wrench screw-threadably to remove the oil filter  50  from the oil filter mount  44 .  
         [0044]    Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is particularly well suited to contain fluids released during service, maintenance and other modification or adjustment of mechanical devices; is well adapted to the servicing, maintenance and other attention to mechanical devices, particularly where such mechanical devices employ systems and subsystems containing fluids to be replaced, processed, or initially charged in the system or subsystem; is unusually well suited to use in such processes relative to the removal and installation of filters, such as oil filters, on internal combustion engines wherein residual fluids within the internal combustion engine and filter may interfere with the operation to be performed; operates to avoid the nuisance and possibly hazardous or damaging consequences of such residual fluids in the maintenance of the mechanical device involved; is entirely compatible with the existing systems and subsystems involved as well as the procedures normally performed without in any way detracting from the procedures normally involved; and is otherwise entirely successful in achieving its operational objectives.  
         [0045]    Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.