Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With spring motor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-02
2002-08-27
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With spring motor
C242S385100, C210S924000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06439492
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicular fluids containment devices and, more specifically, to the absorption of vehicular fluids that may precipitate from the under chassis of a motor vehicle. The present invention is a vehicular fluid absorbing pad with selectively retractable and extendable means. The vehicular fluid absorbing pad consists of a main enclosure, two retaining end caps having retaining brackets and channeled grooves therein, a guide baffle, an absorbing element, a spring loaded ratchet mechanism, a barrel element, a counter weight and a stopper. The main enclosure is a modified cylindrical shaped structure having a thin rectangular aperture therein. The main enclosure provides am the housing for the guide baffle, the absorbing element, the barrel, the counter weight, and the spring loaded ratchet mechanism. Also the main enclosure provides the means for protection for the internal intricate components from the harsh conditions of the surrounding environment. The retaining end caps are cup shaped structures having retaining grooves therein. The retaining end caps provide the means for retaining the internal intricate components in the main enclosure of the vehicular fluid absorbent pad. The retaining end caps are furnished with a plurality of grooved channels which provide the means for coupling the retaining end caps with several of the intricate components of the vehicular fluid absorbent pad. The retaining end caps are also furnished with a retaining bracket which provides the means for coupling the retaining end caps with the ratchet of the spring loaded ratchet mechanism. Also the retaining end caps assists in providing the absorbing element of the retractable fluid absorbent pad with it selectively retracting and extending abilities by working in conjunction with the ratchet member of the spring loaded ratchet mechanism. The retaining end caps are furthermore furnished with threaded circle shaped apertures at its base to provide the means for the coupling of the retaining end caps with the counter weight element via the threaded member of the rubber feet. The counter weight element is a rectangular shaped weighted structure. The counter weight element provides the vehicular fluid absorbent pad with the means of anchorage and stability. The counter weight element is located in the main enclosure at the base of the main enclosure. The counter weight element is furnished with threaded apertures at each of its distal ends to provide the means for coupling the retaining end caps with the counter weight element of the vehicular fluid absorbent pad by working in conjunction with the a threaded member of the rubber feet. The absorbing member is a rectangular shaped structure comprised of a porous sponge like material. The absorbing member provides the vehicular fluid absorbent pad with the means for the absorption of hazardous and other fluids that precipitate from a vehicle's under carriage or chassis. The absorbing element is coupled to the barrel element at one of its distal ends. Also the absorbing element is rolled and housed on the barrel element. The absorbing pad is coupled to the stopper at its opposite distal end. The absorbing pad with stopper coupled thereto, protrudes through the thin rectangular shaped aperture of the main enclosure. The barrel element provides housing for the absorbing pad of said vehicular fluid absorbent pad. Also the barrel element is coupled to the spring loaded ratchet mechanism and works in conjunction with the spring loaded ratchet mechanism as they provide the means for extending and retracting the absorbing pad of said vehicular fluid absorbent pad. The spring loaded ratchet mechanism provides the retracting and extending means for the absorbing pad as it works in conjunction with the retaining end caps retaining bracket as well as the barrel element. The spring loaded ratchet mechanism is activated when the absorbing element is pulled on to be extended or pulled on to initiate the ratchet mechanisms retractable ability. The spring loaded ratchet mechanism resembles the spring loaded ratchet mechanisms that are commonly found in conventional window shades. The rubber feet having threaded extended members provide the vehicular fluid absorbent pad with traction and stability. The rubber feet are positioned one in each of the four threaded apertures located at each distal corners of the base of the vehicular fluid absorbent pad retaining end caps. The stopper is a cylindrical shaped structure that is coupled to the other distal end of the absorbing element. The stopper provides the means for preventing the absorbing pad from inadvertently being retracted into the main enclosure. The stopper also has a ringed-shaped structure thereon to provide the means for attaching the absorbing element to a stationary position when extended from the main enclosure of the vehicular fluid absorbent pad. The vehicular fluid absorbent pad may be placed under a vehicle suspected of leaking vehicular fluids, or it may be placed beneath a vehicle under going selective vehicular tune-ups and fluid changes. The vehicular fluid absorbent pad provides the individual user with catching and retaining sump like characteristics and may also provide the means of a last resort for protecting road side and parking areas from being damaged from inadvertent vehicular fluid leaks. The vehicular fluid absorbent pad when fully extended is designed to span the entire under chassis of a vehicle to insure that all areas that may fall suspect to vehicular fluid leakage are covered.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other fluid absorbing and retaining devices designed for absorbing, catching and retaining fluids. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,147 issued to Clapper et al on Feb. 5, 1985.
Another patent was issued to Schumacher on Jun. 9, 1987 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,024. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,754 was issued to Tomek on Jan. 17, 1989 and still yet another was issued on Apr. 30, 1991 to Kenimer as U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,007.
Another patent was issued to Smith on Jan. 14, 1992 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,956. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,774 was issued to Maxim, Jr. on May 19, 1992. Another was issued to Lind on Aug. 27, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,945 and still yet another was issued on Jun. 29, 1999 to Mohr as U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,658. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,241 was issued to Anderson on Sept. 28, 1999. Another patent was issued to Dean on May 16, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,162.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,147
Inventor: David D. Clapper
Issued: Feb. 5, 1985
Drips-catching mats for installation in combination with a minor proportion of a floor especially a garage floor beneath a motor vehicle to capture oil drippings therefrom. The mat essentially comprises generally horizontally extending laminar elements including: a base member highly-tenaciously bonded to the underlying floor environment; an oleophilic blotter member having a lower-tenacity attached to the base member whereby an oleo-laden blotter can be manually replaced with a fresh blotter without disrupting the high-tenacity flooring bond to the base member, the lower-tenacity attachment preferably comprising an oleo-resistant laminar adhesive; and visual indicator means to indicate when blotter replacement is necessary.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,024
Inventor: Harold W. Schumacher
Issued: Jun. 9, 1987
A drip pan adapted to catch dirt and debris falling from a vehicle that is driven onto it, thereby protecting a garage floor surface underlying the drip pan from soiling or contamination. The drip pan is a rectangular sheet of plastic that is sized to extend beyond the perimeter of the vehicle with which it will be used. The edges of the plastic sheet are rolled under and thermally sealed or glued along a line parallel with the perimeter of the sheet, forming a sleeve. In one embodiment, a radially compressible cylindrical material, such as pipe insulation tubing, is inserted into the sleeves to provide a raised ridge around th
Beauchaine Mark J.
Kroll Michael I.
Walsh Donald P.
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