Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Funnel type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-16
2001-05-01
Maust, Timothy L. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Funnel type
C141S098000, C141S331000, C141S337000, C141S340000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223793
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The field of the present invention is that of remote fill containers for automotive vehicles. More particularly the field of the present invention is that of a remote fill reservoir useful for engine coolant overflow or windshield wiper fluid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The primary cause of vehicular accidents in the United States is driver error. To lower the rate of driver error it is important to eliminate as much as possible any interference with the driver's vision. Accordingly most if not all vehicles have a windshield wiper system equipped with a fluid reservoir located under the hood which can spray windshield wiper fluid onto the windshield. Windshield wiper fluid serves two major functions. The first function is to clean the windshield of dust, dirt, bugs or other foreign matter which can obscure the driver's vision. Additionally, the windshield wiper fluid is an antifreeze solution which is utilized to remove ice and snow from the windshield.
In the most recent quarter century, there has been a major effort to increase fuel economy of automotive vehicles. A major technical trend to increase fuel economy is to diminish the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle by lowering the hood region of the vehicle. A more rounded or pointed front end has replaced the box front end which was common on many earlier vehicles. Additionally, the grill area is typically smaller. The aerodynamic changes which have occurred on the front of the vehicle have resulted in a smaller volumetric space between the various components under the vehicle hood. Therefore, fluid reservoirs have to be placed in less optimal positions making filling the reservoirs much more difficult.
It is desirable that the windshield wiper fluid reservoir be as large as possible to reduce the frequency of refilling the reservoir. This is especially critical in long distance travel. It is also desirable that the windshield wiper fluid reservoir be placed in a region of the engine compartment which is readily accessible to fill by the vehicle operator regardless of the vehicle operator's height or reach. It is also desirable that the windshield wiper fluid reservoir be placed within a portion of a vehicle underneath the hood wherein there is already space available without requiring redesign or relocation of other engine compartment components of the vehicle.
Another fluid reservoir in the vehicle is the engine coolant overflow reservoir. To increase the efficiency of the vehicle most automotive engines have a pressurized engine coolant system. In a pressurized engine coolant system the amount of coolant in the engine and the radiator combined is not a constant. Accordingly, there is provided an overflow engine coolant reservoir. At certain points of operation of the vehicle, engine coolant will be sucked into the radiator from the engine coolant reservoir. At other times engine coolant will be pushed out of the radiator back into the engine coolant reservoir. When the engine coolant system is fully pressurized and the engine is hot, it can be hazardous to remove the radiator cap. Additionally, it is not always prudent to add low temperature engine coolant to the engine coolant system when the engine is hot. To prevent a vehicle operator from having to remove a radiator cap and to prevent the addition of cold coolant to a hot engine, engine coolant is typically added to the engine coolant overflow reservoir.
It is desirable that the engine coolant overflow reservoir be as large as possible so that a frequency of refilling the reservoir can be reduced. This is especially critical in vehicles which do not receive proper maintenance, since low coolant levels can lead to catastrophic failure of the engine. It is also desirable that the engine coolant overflow reservoir be placed in a region of the engine compartment which is readily accessible to fill by the vehicle operator regardless of the vehicle operator's height or reach. It is also desirable that the engine coolant overflow reservoir be convenient to fill, thereby eliminating spills of expensive engine antifreeze and the resultant unpleasant odor from engine coolant on a hot engine block. It is also desirable that the engine coolant overflow reservoir be placed within a portion of a vehicle underneath the hood wherein there is already space available without requiring redesign or relocation of other engine compartment components of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To make manifest the above noted and other desires, the revelation of the present invention is brought forth. The present invention provides a freedom to provide the relatively large fluid reservoir by allowing it to be remotely located in a region of the engine compartment where space is already available. A neck fluidly connected with a main body of the reservoir has an opening orientated toward a region of the engine compartment, which is easily accessible by operators of various heights and reach. In addition, the fluid reservoir of the present invention has a flexible extendable funnel which further facilitates convenient filling. A cap of the fluid reservoir can be color coded to make it readily recognizable in the engine compartment. In a preferred embodiment a fluid reservoir of the present invention includes an aforementioned main body to contain the windshield wiper fluid or engine coolant antifreeze. A neck is fluidly connected with the main body and is inclined to a region of the engine compartment which is more readily accessible. An extendable funnel is also provided which has flanges along its extreme end to prevent the funnel falling into the fluid reservoir or being inadvertently pulled out of the fluid reservoir. Furthermore to add to the convenience of filling the fluid reservoir, the funnel is flexible and has an outwardly flared upper end to prevent spills of windshield wiper fluid or engine coolant antifreeze.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote fill fluid reservoir for an automotive vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote fill windshield wiper fluid reservoir.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote fill fluid reservoir which has an extendable funnel.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote fill engine coolant overflow reservoir.
The above noted and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the invention as it is provided in the accompanying drawings and detailed description of a preferred embodiment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1420039 (1922-06-01), Horstkotte
patent: 2637513 (1953-05-01), Wallen
patent: 4234098 (1980-11-01), Miller et al.
patent: 4811763 (1989-03-01), Kupske
patent: 5033521 (1991-07-01), Martin
patent: 5082035 (1992-01-01), Maxwell
patent: 5857504 (1999-01-01), Tremblay
Donoughe Michael F
Flesher Daniel J
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
MacLean Kenneth H.
Maust Timothy L.
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