Abstract:
An electric blanket that can be wrapped around the fuel filter and powered by the automotive vehicle battery by means of a cigarette lighter adapter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for warming an oil filter of an automotive vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Diesel fuel may contain paraffin residues and these residues may solidify in the fuel tank or filter system when the vehicle is idle during cold weather. The solidified residues can then clog the fuel filter system. Warming the fuel filter prior to starting the engine can reduce the chances of such clogging. U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,255 discloses an oil filter with an internal plate mounted within the filter housing for warming the oil in the filter. The prior art does not disclose a means for externally warming the fuel filter or for a device that can be easily applied to an existing fuel filter without the necessity of removing the fuel filter and modifying or replacing it with a filter with a built-in heating unit. The prior art also discloses food and beverage warmers employing a flexible jacket that can be electrically powered by a cigarette lighter adapter. The prior art also discloses seat warmers powered by a cigarette lighter adapter. The prior art does not teach the use of an electric blanket for warming a fuel filter. 
     A need exists for a fuel filter warmer that can be used when needed on an existing fuel filter without the need to remove or replace the filter and which can be manufactured inexpensively. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meeting the needs identified above is an electric blanket that can be wrapped around the fuel filter and powered by the automotive vehicle battery by means of a cigarette lighter adapter. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical vehicle showing the location of the device. 
     FIG. 2 is front perspective view of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, truck  12  has tank  14  connected to filter  16  by fuel line  18 . Filter  16  has bottom  22  and top  20 . Fuel line  18  has first end  17  connected to top  20  and second end  19  connected to tank  14 . Blanket  24  is wrapped around filter  16 . Cable  58  has blanket end  57  fixedly or removably engaged to blanket  24  and outlet end  59  connected to cigarette lighter adapter  54 . Cigarette lighter adapter  54  is adapted for insertion into standard cigarette lighter component  56  of truck  12 . Persons skilled in the art know that a cigarette lighter adapter allows current to be drawn from the vehicle battery through the vehicle&#39;s cigarette lighter fixture which is usually located on the dashboard but may be located elsewhere in the cab of the vehicle. Cable  58  is shown running through the firewall  13  of truck  12 . Alternatively, cable  58  may be run outside of the vehicle and through the window of truck  12  into the cab for insertion of cigarette lighter adapter  54  into cigarette lighter  56 . 
     FIG. 2 depicts blanket  24  with internal wiring  50  connected to cable  58  which is connected to adapter  54 . Adapter  54  has dial  60  for adjusting the flow of current to blanket  24 . 
     Blanket  24  further has outside surface  28  and inside surface  26 , top edge  30  and bottom edge  32 , first connecting end  34  and second connecting end  36 . Blanket  24  also has first strap  44  and second strap  46 . First strap  48  has velcro section  48  for engaging velcro section  49  on second strap  46 . Blanket  24  has first securement area  34  having first securement area velcro fasteners  42  on the inside surface of first securement area  34  and second securement area  36  having second securement area velcro fasteners  40  on the outside surface of second securement area  36 . Blanket  24  is affixed to filter  16  (FIG. 1) by wrapping blanket  24  around filter  16  snugly and engaging second securement area velcro fasteners  40  with first securement area velcro fasteners  42 . First strap  44  and second strap  46  are secured by engaging velcro section  48  and velcro section  49  respectively. Alternatively, first strap  44  and second strap  46  can run over top  20  of filter  16  and engage outside velcro sections (not shown) on outer surface  28  of blanket  24 . Internal wiring  50  runs up and down continuously within blanket  24  and the running ends of internal wiring  50  run parallel to top edge  30  of blanket  24  and exit blanket  24  at cable  20  connection  57 . In the preferred embodiment, internal wiring  50  is a 12V heating element. Internal wiring  50  may exit and be covered so they continue in one unit in cable  58 . Alternatively, internal wiring  50  may end at cable connection  57  so that cable  58  can be removed or attached to cable connection  57  as needed. Cable  58  connects to adapter  54 . Adapter  54  has dial  60  for adjusting the flow of current to wiring  50  in blanket  24 . When adapter  54  is placed in cigarette lighter  56  (FIG. 1) of truck  12  (FIG. 1) electrical current flows through cable  58  to wiring  50  which heats up inside blanket  24  and the heat is transmitted to filter  16  around which blanket  24  is wrapped (FIG.  1 ). The heat transmitted to filter  16  causes paraffin residue which has solidified in fuel in filter  16  to de-soldify, thereby reducing the risk of filter  16  clogging. Blanket  24  may be stored when not in use in the cab of truck  12 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.