Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The present invention relates to an engine oil additive
dispenser. More particularly, the invention relates to an oil additive
dispenser for an engine of an automotive vehicle having a valve cover
with an opening formed therethrough.
There are engine oil additives which have a very low
viscosity. They, therefore, do not pour completely out of the can, even
when they are warmed, due to their great stickiness. These oil additives
are sold in one pint cans having lids which are completely removed by
manual pressure applied to an extending pull tab.
The principal feature of the invention is to provide an
engine oil additive dispenser of simple structure, which supplies the
complete contents of a can to an engine.
A further feature of the invention is to provide an engine
oil additive dispenser of simple structure, which is inexpensive in
manufacture and empties the complete contents of an oil additive can into
an engine.
Yet another feature of the invention is to provide an engine
oil additive dispenser of simple structure, which is inexpensive in
manufacture3 installed with facility and convenience, used with safety
and ease, and functions efficiently, effectively and reliably to empty
the complete contents of an oil additive can into the valve cover of the
englne of an automotive vehicle without any waste.
In accordance with the invention, an engine oil additive
dispenser for an engine of an automotive vehicle having a valve cover
with an opening formed therethrough, comprises a cylindrical housing
'
having a cylindrical side and spaced opposite top and bottom base ends,
said housing accommodating a can of engine oil additive. A pair of pins
extend substantially radially from diametrically opposite sides of the
housing in proximity with the top end thereof. A cover has a pair of
inverted L-shaped slots formed therein on diametrically opposite sides
thereof and extending from an edge thereof for releasably securing the
cover to the housing by receiving the pins. A spring is mounted on the
bottom end of the housing within the housing for urging a can out of the
housing when the housing is uncovered. An externally threaded sleeve
extends substantially perpendicularly from the bottom end of the housing
outside the housing next-adjacent the side of the housing for removably
affixing the housing to the valve cover of the vehicle. The bottom end
has a hole formed therethrough and opening into the sleeve whereby a can
containing liquid and having an opening therein, placed in the housing,
empties its liquid completely into the valve cover.
The invention will now be described by way of example only,
~; reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the oil
; additive dispenser of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the cover of the
embodiment of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of part
of the embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positioning
of the oil additive dlspenser of the invention on a valve cover of a first
type; and
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positioning
of the oil additive dispenser of the invention on a valve cover of a
second type.
The oil additive dispenser of the invention is for an engine
of an automotive vehicle having a valve cover 1 (Figures 1, 4, and 5)
with an opening 2 (Figure 1) formed therethrough.
The oil additive dispenser of the invention comprises a
cylindrical housing 3 having a cylindrical side 4 (Figure 1) and spaced
opposite top and bottom base ends 5 and 6, respectively (Figure 1). The
top base end 5 of the housing 3 is open9 and the housing accommodates a
can of oil additive, such as, for example, STP or Motor Honey. The empty
can may then be used to add regular engine oil.
A pair of pins, of which one pin 7 is shown in Figures 2 and
3, extend substantially radially from diametr;cally opposite sides 4 of
the housing 3 in proximity with the top end 5 thereof.
A cover 8 (Figures 1 to 53 has a pair of inverted L-shaped
slots, of which one slot 9 is sho~n in Figures 2 and 3, formed therein.
The slots extend from an edge 10 of the cover 8, as shown in Figures 2 and
3, for releasably securing the cover to the housing 3 by receiving the
corresponding pins. This is accomplished by manually placing the cover
8 on the housing 3 with the pins passing into the lateral portions of the
slots. When the cover 8 has been positioned so that the pins are at the
uppermost point of the lateral portions of the slots, said cover is
manually rotated clockwise, so that the pins become accommodated in the
:, ,
~13J~)9
circumferential portions of the slots, thereby securing the cover to the
housing.
A spring 11 is axially mounted on the end 6 of the housing 3,
within said housing, as shown in Figure 1, for urging a can 12 (Figures
1 and 3) out of the housing when said housing is uncovered. The spring
11 is a curved leaf spring and is compressed by the can 12 in the vie~l of
Figure 1.
An externally threaded sleeve 13 extends substantially per-
pendicularly from the bottom end 6 of the housing 3 outside said housing,
as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5. In a preferred embodiment of the inven-
tion, the externally threaded sleeve 13 is next-adjacent the side 4 of the
housing 3, as shown in Figure 1. The sleeve 13 is utilized to removably
affix the housing to the valve cover 1 of the vehicle. The bottom end 6
has a hole 14 formed therethrough and opening into the sleeve 13 (Figure
1).
A can 12 containing liquid, such as, for example, an oil
additive, and having an opening thereln, placed in the housing 3 with its
open end positioned closest to the valve cover 1, empties its liquid
contents completely into said valve cover. The can 12 may have its lid
completely removed or may be punctured.
A gasket 15 (Flgures 1 and 3) is preferably provided atop
the can 12 in the housing 3 and may be permanently affixed to the inside
of the cover 8~
A gasket 16 is provided around the sleeve 13, between the
bottom end 6 and an extended base 17 of the housing 3, and the valve
- 4 -
V5~
cover 1, as shown in Figure 1. The oil additi~/e dispenser of the inven-
tion is preferably secured to the valve cover 1, via a pair of nuts 18
and 19 (Figure 1).
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the
foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed
as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in
the art, the ~anner of carrying out the invention. It is further under-
stood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to
be taken as the presently preferred embodiment. Various changes may be
made in the shape, size and general arrangement of components, for example,
equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described
herein, parts may be used independently of the use of other features, all
as will be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefits
of the description of the invention.