Patent ID: 8875933

Claim:
A drainable container system for a vehicle, the drainable container system comprising: a container having an exterior surface and defining; an interior cavity configured for storing a fluid; and a drain hole configured for draining the fluid from the interior cavity, wherein the drain hole has a central longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface; a drain plug; wherein the drain plug is insertable into the drain hole along the central longitudinal axis into a locked position so that the fluid does not drain from the interior cavity; and wherein the drain plug is removable from the drain hole along the central longitudinal axis when disposed in an unlocked position so that the fluid drains from the interior cavity; and a locking element attached to the container and configured for preventing rotation of the drain plug within the drain hole about the central longitudinal axis when the drain plug is disposed in the locked position, wherein the locking element is formed from a metal that is substantially elastic at a temperature of from about −40° C. to about 10° C.; wherein the drain plug is configured for mechanically interlocking with the locking element, and defines a recess therein; wherein the locking element includes a depressible tab configured for extending into the recess so that the locking element mechanically interlocks with the drain plug and thereby prevents rotation of the drain plug within the drain hole about the central longitudinal axis when the drain plug is disposed in the locked position; wherein the locking element is configured as a disc having an outer surface, and is coaxial with the central longitudinal axis; and further wherein the depressible tab is configured as a resilient clip that is transitionable between; a first position in which the resilient clip protrudes from the outer surface into the recess so that the drain plug is disposed in the locked position and is not rotatable about the central longitudinal axis; and a second position in which the resilient clip is substantially flush with the outer surface and does not protrude into the recess so that the drain plug is disposed in the unlocked position and is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis.