Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02329645 2000-12-27
LOCATOR DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an illuminated device and more particularly
to a
device that illuminates the location of a support tube for a fluid level
indicator in a motor
vehicle engine.
Background to the Invention
Low fluid levels in vehicle engines can cause serious damage to an engine. For
this
reason, manufacturers of vehicles recommend that fluid levels in a vehicle's
engine be
checked on a regular basis. To accommodate this, vehicle manufacturers install
various fluid
level indicator sticks to check fluid levels. These include dipsticks for
checking the vehicle's
oil level and the vehicle's transmission fluid level.
No standards exist regarding the location of the indicators within vehicle
engines. The
location of the indicators varies significantly between different makes and
models of vehicles.
Because of this, a person unfamiliar with a particular vehicle's engine may
have difficulty in
locating the indicator. Also, in low light situations even those familiar with
the engine may
have difficulty locating the dipstick.
Several inventions have attempted, at least partially, to make locating an
indicator
easier. U.S. Patent 2,743,352 to Gilbert teaches a light located adjacent to
the dipstick
support tube which turns on when the dipstick is removed. The limitation of
Gilbert, however,
is that it only makes returning the dipstick to the support tube easier, and
does not aid a
person in finding the locator in the first place.
Another invention which attempts to solve the above problem is U.S. Patent
3,098,254
to Rose. Rose teaches a device which fits over the indicator support tube and
has a wiping
device made from a phosphorescent material. The problems with Rose, however,
are that
the indicator has to be modified to accommodate the extra length added to the
support tube
by the device, that the phosphorescent material will occasionally need to be
changed,
creating potentially hazardous waste, and that the phosphorescent material
does not always
show up very well.
A third approach which attempts to solve the problem is shown in U.S. Patent
No.
5,101,327 to Jewett. This device involves connecting a light source within a
notched ring to
the outer edge of a support tube. Jewett teaches connecting the ring to the
tube by having
a flange extending downwardly from the ring and using a clamp to affix this
flange to the
support tube.
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As with the above inventions, Jewett also has a number of limitations. First,
in order
to accommodate the numerous diameters of indicator support tubes which
presently exist in
vehicle engines, Jewett is forced to provide a number of rings with different
inner diameters.
This is uneconomical and wasteful since the user can use only one of the
rings, and the rest
will likely be discarded. Jewett also is challenging to install and the flange
extending
downwards from the ring can provide a flimsy support. Finally, the light
source in Jewett is
continuously illuminated, which can drain the battery if the vehicle is used
infrequently or the
light source is chosen improperly.
Summar~r of the Invention
The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing
a device
to facilitate the location of an engine fluid level indicator with the added
features that it is also
easy to mount, sturdy, adaptable to various support tube diameters, and will
not excessively
drain the engine's battery. The device consists of a toroid or clamshell. The
device can be
mounted along a fluid level indicator support tube by affixing the two halves
of the toroid
together or by closing the clamshell around the tube. This configuration
provides a sturdy
yet easy to mount construction.
Further, the device is illuminated, making the dipstick easy to find. Th.e
light source
on the device may be turned on only when the hood of the car is lifted by
either using the
hood light as the power source or by adding a switch to the hood to sense the
hood opening.
This will save the car battery by making sure the device is off when the hood
is closed. In
the alternative, and preferably, a low voltage long lasting bulb or light
emitting diodes is used
which remains on permanently and which is rated to last probably as long as
the vehicle
itself.
Further, the device is adaptable to various support tube diameters. By
providing a
number of shims that can be added to the inner surface of the device, the
device will be able
to be configured to the support tube with minimal excess material or waste.
According to the present invention then, there is provided a location
indication
apparatus for a support tube, said apparatus comprising a body member
comprised of two
halves fixedly attachable to each other for a compressive fit around said
support tube; a light-
transmitting lens means affixed atop each said half; a light source means
disposed between
each said body half and its respective lens means; and a conductor means for
connecting
said light source to a power source to activate said light source and
illuminate said lens
means to thereby facilitate the location of said support tube.
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According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
kit for
adding illumination around the open end of a support tube, comprising a body
portion having
two halves closable about said support tube adjacent said open end thereof,
each half of the
body portion having a light source therein and a lens illuminated by said
light source to
provide a ring of illumination about said open end when said light source is
activated; a
conductor means for connecting said light sources to a source of power; and a
shim means
disposable between said halves and said support tube, if necessary, to provide
a tight
compressive fit between said body portion and said tube.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
location
indication apparatus for a support tube, said apparatus comprising a body
member adapted
for a concentric fit about a support tube adjacent an upper end thereof; a
light transmitting
lens affixed atop said body portion; at least one light source disposed in
said body portion
beneath said light transmitting lens; and conductor means for connecting said
light source
to a power source to activate said light source and illuminate said lens to
thereby facilitate
the location of said support tube.
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
in a
dipstick support tube affixed to an engine to slidably receive a dipstick
thereinto, the support
tube having one end adapted for connection to the engine and a second end to
receive the
dipstick thereinto, the improvement wherein said support tube adjacent said
second end
thereof is enlarged in diameter to supportably receive therein at least one
light source, the
enlarged portion having connected thereto a light transmitting lens wherein
said light source,
when illuminated, is visible to facilitate the location of said dipstick, said
light source being
connected to conductor means for connecting said light source to a source of
power for
selective activation of said light source.
Brief Description of The Drawingis
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in
greater detail
and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following
drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a top view of one of the lens halves of an illuminated fluid
level
indicator locating device;
Figure 2 shows a side view of the device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a top view of one side of the body of the locating device;
Figure 4 shows a side view of the device of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the body of the locating device;
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Figure 6 shows a top view of the opposite side of the body of the locating
device that
is shown in Figures 3 and 4;
Figure 7 shows a side view of the device of Figure 6;
Figure 8 shows a top view of the locating device;
Figure 9 shows a side view of the assembled locating device, including its
electrical
components;
Figure 10 shows a bottom view of the locating device;
Figure 11 shows a perspective view of one half of the body of the locating
device;
Figure 12 shows a side view of the shim strip;
Figure 13 shows a top view of the shim strip of Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a side elevational view of an alternative illuminated fluid level
indicator
locating device incorporated as part of the support tube;
Figure 15 is a side elevational cross sectional view through the locating
device of
Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a side elevational view of the lens of the device of Figure 14;
Figure 17 is a top plan view of the locating device with the lens removed;
Figure 18 is a plan view of the locating device with the indicator in place;
Figure 19 is a side elevational view of a further alternative fluid level
indicator locating
device;
Figure 20 is a side elevational cross sectional view through the locating
device of
Figure 19;
Figure 21 is a perspective view of the body of a further alternative
embodiment of the
locating device;
Figure 22 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 21 with the lenses
removed;
Figure 23 is a perspective view of the locator in an open position with the
lenses in
place;
Figure 24 is a perspective view of the lenses themselves;
Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view of the locator including the light
sources;
Figure 26 is a top plan view of the body of the locator in a closed position;
Figure 27 is a perspective view of shims for use with the embodiment of Figure
21;
and
Figure 28 is a circuit diagram for standard surge protection of the present
device.
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Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the present invention is most
clearly
illustrated by Figures 5 and 9. A fluid level indicator stick locator 10 is
created for mounting
around a support tube 90 for the indicator, and is comprised of a pair of
semicircular lens 20
respectively affixed on top of a split body portion 30 and a light source 61
in each half of the
body portion.
Lens 20 is better seen from Figures 1 and 2. Lens 20 comprises a half ring
shape
with wider base 21 and a narrower top 22. The inner radius of lens 20 is
sufficiently large to
accommodate most support tubes currently installed in vehicles. The outer
radius of base
21 corresponds with that of body portion 30 and is sufficiently greater than
the inner radius
to allow a light source to be installed under lens 20, yet sufficiently small
to allow the locator
10 to be positioned in the tight spaces found around most support tubes. Lens
20 is
preferably moulded from one piece of polymeric resin material and is either
transparent or
translucent.
Body portion 30 is comprised of body half 40 and body half 50, as can most
clearly
be seen in Figures 5 and 8.
Body half 40 is best seen in Figures 3 and 4. Body half 40 is shaped like a
half toroid,
with the inner radius of body half 40 being the same or almost the same as the
inner radius
of lens 20. The outer radius of body half 40 is close to or the same as the
outer radius of
lens 20. Body half 40 includes a light mount 44 which, in the preferred
embodiment, is simply
an annular recess formed into the top of body half 40 sufficiently deep and
large enough to
accommodate light source 61, and alternatively having a groove for preventing
unwanted
displacement of said light source 61. Body half 40 also contains a hole 41
which extends
from light mount 44 to the bottom of body half 40. The top of hole 41 can be
enlarged if
necessary to provide a "socket" for light source 61 and the remainder of the
hole provides
a conduit for wires 62 (Figure 9) that connect the light source to a power
supply. Body half
40 additionally includes screw hole ends 42 and 43 extending partially
therethrough to
receive screws (not shown) used to connect body halves 40 and 50 together
around tube 90.
Body half 50 is best seen in Figures 6 and 7. Body half 50 is the mirror image
of body
half 40 and is essentially identical thereto with the exception of screw holes
52 and 53 which
extend all the way through the half and which are aligned with screw hole ends
42 and 43 in
body half 40.
In the alternative to two separate body halves, the body portion can be
fabricated so
that the two halves are connected together along one edge thereof such as by
means of a
web or bridge of the same material used to mold the halves themselves. The
body portion
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can then be clamshelled around the tube and clamped into place by means of a
screw in the
manner described above, or by a catch molded or connected to the body halves
or by any
other suitable means as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Each lens 20 is connected, typically permanently, to the respective body half
such as
by means of adhesive, effectively sealing light source 61 within light mount
44. A small
amount of adhesive injected into hole 41 around wires 62 or between the light
source and the
top of hole 41 can be used to hold the light source in place. In an
alternative embodiment,
wires 62 and light source 61 can be moulded in place during the creation of
body half 40.
In a preferred embodiment, light source 61 is a long lasting switchable light.
A light emitting
diode capable of 10,000 hours of service is well suited for this purpose.
As is best seen in Figures 8 and 10, body portion 30 is easily assembled by
placing
body half 40 in contact with body half 50 around support tube 90 and affixing
the body halves
together by passing a screw through screw hole 52 into screw hole end 42, and
passing a
screw through screw hole 53 into screw hole end 43. A shim may be added to the
inner
radius of body half 40 and body half 50 to ensure tight contact with support
tube 90.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, body halves 40 and 50 can be
made
from a wide variety of materials. However, several constraints exist. The
material chosen
must be heat resistant, oil resistant, and durable. In the preferred
embodiment, the body
halves are composed of hard rubber or plastic.
In order to ensure a tight fit of body portion 30 to support tube 90, the
present locating
device 10 can be accompanied by shim strips 70, such as shown in Figures 12
and 13.
Each strip 70 includes a number of shims, as illustrated by shim 71, shim 72,
shim 73, and
shim 74. Shims 71, 72, 73 and 74 all have an outer diameter the same as body
30's inner
diameter. The inner diameter of each shim 71 to 74 varies in order to
accommodate various
diameters of support tube 90. In a preferred embodiment, shims 71, 72, 73 and
74 are made
from the same material as the lens 20, allowing the light source to illuminate
the area
adjacent to the support tube. In an alternative embodiment, the shims can be
made from any
oil and heat resistant rubber or plastic.
The shims are provided in halves like the body halves to facilitate
installation around
the support tube. A user simply selects the proper shim based on the diameter
of support
tube 90 within the vehicle, breaks or cuts the shims from shim strips, and
applies the shims
to the inner surfaces of body sides 40 and 50 prior to installation. A small
tube of adhesive
material can be provided with the shims to allow the user to glue the shims to
a body half
prior to installation around support tube 90, making the installation easier.
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Light source 61 is powered through wires 62. Wires 62 comprise an insulated
harness attached between light source 61 and a power source. The power source
can either
be the car battery, in which case switch 63 can be added between the battery
and light
source 61, or to the hood light if the vehicle is equipped with one. Switch
63, if present, can
be a tilt sensing switch mounted to the hood of the car to activate the
present device only
when the hood is opened. In the preferred alternative, switch 63 can be
plunger-actuated
and mounted at any convenient location where the hood meets the vehicle's
body. One
skilled in the art will appreciate that there are a number of other
alternative switches for
sensing when the hood is opened.
Lens 20 can be coloured to identify different dipsticks. For example, amber
lenses
can be used for the oil, red lenses can be used for the transmission fluid.
Original equipment manufacturers may prefer that the dipstick locator be
affixed to
or integrated into support tube 90 at the time of engine assembly. To
accommodate this
preference, and in the alternative to post assembly of the two body halves 40
and 50 around
an existing support tube, the body portion can be fabricated as a unitary
piece of material
preassembled onto support tube 90 as shown in Figure 14 wherein like numerals
have been
used to identify like elements.
As shown in Figure 14, the body portion 100 of the locator is generally
toroidal in
configuration and has a central aperture 101 formed axially therethrough for a
tight friction
fit about support tube 90. If a more positive connection between body 100 and
the support
tube is required, some adhesive can be applied between the two, or the tube
and the body
portion can be formed with detentes for a snap fit. Other means of connection
will occur to
those skilled in the art.
Body portion 100 includes at its upper end a hollowed out annular recess 102
which
is sufficient in size and depth to accommodate light source 61. Body portion
100 is formed
with holes 41 corresponding in number to the number of light sources 61. Holes
41 extend
from annular recess 102 through the body portion and can be enlarged if
necessary at their
upper ends to provide a "socket" for the light sources. The remainder of the
holes provide
a conduit for wires 62 forming a harness that connect the light sources to a
power supply.
In the alternative, wires 62 and light sources 61 can be molded in place
during the creation
of the body portion with the wires 62 simply emerging from the molded body
portion.
The upper surface of body portion 100 including recess 102 is preferably
sealed by
a light transmitting lens 103 as shown in Figures 15 and 16. The lens is
formed with a central
aperture sized to fit tightly around tube 90 and its outer diameter is the
same as the outer
diameter of body portion 100. The lens is connected typically permanently to
body portion
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100 such as by means of an adhesive, effectively sealing the light sources 61
within the
locator. The diameter of body portion 100 is selected to fit within the
limited space typically
found around the dipstick support tube.
The locator as described above can be slipped onto support tube 90 for pre-
assembly
therewith prior to assembly of the support tube to the engine.
In the alternative to the use of a discrete body portion 100, a similar result
can be
obtained by enlarging the support tube's upper end as shown in Figure 19. More
specifically,
the upper end of tube 90 is enlarged or can be made to include an enlargement
that forms
a hollow body portion 120. Inside the housing, a ring-shaped plate 122 is
installed to provide
a support for light sources 61. The plate has an aperture formed through its
center to allow
the dipstick to pass. The top of housing 120 is then fitted with and sealed by
lens 103. In
other respects, this embodiment is the same as the embodiment of Figures 14 to
18.
A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 21 to 28 in which
like
reference numerals have been used to identify like elements.
In this embodiment, locator device 10 once again includes a body 30 consisting
of two
halves 40 and 50 hingedly connected together as shown most clearly in Figures
22 and 26.
The hinge 33 connecting the two halves is ideally injection molded from the
same material
used to mold the halves for ease of manufacturing, and, as seen most clearly
from Figure
26, the web of material forming the hinge can be thinned and shaped for
improved flexibility
and to facilitate repeated opening and closing of the clamshell. Each halve of
the body
portion includes a lens 20 that snap or friction fits to the respective body
half as will be
described below. Each body half is also provided with one or more light
sources 61 (Figure
25) such as a bulb or LED, including appropriate wiring harness 62 for
connecting the LED's
to a power supply. Finally, the device includes a suitable closure mechanism
which in the
embodiment shown in an integrally formed adjustable buckle 153 consisting of a
clasp 154
on one of the body halves, and a tab 155 on the other half. The tab includes a
plurality of
asymmetrical teeth 156 that permit some adjustment to the degree of closure of
the two
halves.
Referring to Figure 22, two body halves are essentially mirror images of one
another.
As aforesaid, the body halves are preferably injection molded from a suitable
temperature
and oil resistant plastics material. Each half includes an outer peripheral
wall 80 terminating
along its upper edge with a reduced thickness rim 81. This rim is intended to
friction or snap
fit into a correspondingly shaped groove in lens 20 to hold the two components
together as
will be described in greater detail below. Each end of rim 81 stopsjust shy of
end 84 of wall
80 to provide clearance for the end of the lens half when installed. Each body
half also
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CA 02329645 2000-12-27
includes a lower annular wall 86, an intermediate annular wall 88 and a
vertical channel 44
extending between the two end defined by side walls 89 and a rounded inner
wall 90.
Intermediate wall 88 includes a peripherally extending notch 87 along its
inner edge, the
notch extending up the contiguous inner edge of wall 80. Hollow cavities 94
are defined by
the lower, intermediate and side walls of the body portion and the side walls
of channel 44.
A horizontal notch or groove 98 is formed into rounded inner wall 90 of
channel 44. Light
emitting diodes of the sort used in the present device are manufactured with a
lip 150 seen
most clearly in Figure 25 that will fit into groove 98 to position the LED and
prevent it from
moving up or down.
Figure 23 shows lenses 20 when installed onto each of the body halves. The
lenses
themselves are shown in Figure 24. Each lens generally comprises an upper
surface 115,
a circumferential shoulder 116, an inner wall 117 and end walls 118. Each lens
also includes
a downwardly depending leg 120. As seen best from Figure 23, when the lenses
are
installed, they flush fit and sealingly abut against the contiguous surfaces
of the body halves.
Specifically, the lower edges of walls 117 and 118 seal into notch 98, the
vertical edges of
leg 120 fit closely between side walls 89 and the inner surface of shoulder
116 fits closely
against the outer surface of outer wall 80. Referring to Figure 25, the lenses
each include
an inner flange 122 that defines a peripheral groove 123 inside the shoulder
116. This
groove snaps onto or frictionally fits onto rim 81 to hold the lens to the
body half. Thus, the
lenses completely enclose and seal the area around each light source 61. The
inner
surfaces 114 of each upper surface 115 of the lenses is etched or frosted for
better diffusion
of the light from LED 61.
Once the lenses 20 are in place, respectively on both body halves 40 and 50,
the
halves 40 and 50 are closed around support tube 90 using buckle 153. Shims 70
as shown
in Figure 27 can be connected to the body halves 40 and 50 to ensure ethat the
locator
device 10 fits snugly around support tube 90. The shims will typically be made
of, without
being restrictive, rubberized materials for a friction fit around support tube
90. The rear
surfaces of the shims can be shaped or formed to press fit into one or more of
cavities 94 to
fold them in place as the locator is installed around the support tube.
1f preferred, and with reference to Figure 28, the wiring harness 62 can
include a
resistor 170 to drop the voltage from the vehicle battery from 12 VDC to 1.5
VDC, a
resettable fuse 171 to protect the LEDs from voltage surges, and a diode 172
to protect
against inadvertent polarity reversals. The wiring harness can also include a
tap 175 for
connection of a second locator device, for example, for the transmission fluid
level indicator.
The LEDs can be switched, but to simplify installation and to reduce costs,
long lasting LEDs
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CA 02329645 2000-12-27
(100,000 - 200,000 hours) are available which can remain on permanently
without serious
drain on the battery and which will last for the expected life of the vehicle.
As shown, the two
LEDs 61 on each locator can be wired in series so that only two wires from the
locator to the
battery are required. The circuit components can be incorporated onto a small
printed circuit
board incorporated into the harness and sealed against dirt and fluids, or the
components
can be incorporated directly into the electrical leads close to the locator
itself, or close to the
battery or at any point in between. As well, the space around the wiring
harness between
channel 44 and leg 120 of lens 20 can be injected with a glue or some other
void-filling
substance to provide a seal and to more permanently connect each lens to its
respective
body half.
It will be seen that the present invention provides a substantial improvement
over
other apparatus used for locating fluid level indicators by providing a device
which is easier
to install, sturdier, less wasteful, and easy on the vehicle battery.
Various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing
description without departing from the spirit of such invention.
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