Title: Fluid bottle with refill bottle opener
Abstract: A fluid reservoir, bottle, pump or storage chamber (50, 70, 80) capable of being refilled by a refill bottle (100), the refill bottle including an outlet passage (106) closed by a fluid seal (104), the fluid reservoir, bottle or storage chamber comprising: an inlet passage (44, 52, 60, 74, 84); a housing (202, 204, 206) for receiving and supporting the refill bottle (100) in an orientation to encourage fluid in the refill bottle to flow into the inlet passage of the fluid reservoir bottle or storage chamber and second means for piercing the fluid seal (104) as the refill bottle is placed upon the first means.
Patent Number: 6,994,129 Issued on 02/07/2006 to Fesko
| Inventors:
|
Fesko; Timothy J. (Canton, MI)
|
| Assignee:
|
Key Plastics, LLC (Northville, MI)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
974659 |
| Filed:
|
October 27, 2004 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
141/330; 141/18; 141/319; 141/329 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
B65D 1/04 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
141/2,18,331-345,329,330,319
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Maust; Timothy L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Markell Seitzman
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/515,253,
filed on Oct. 29, 2003. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated
herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fluid reservoir (
50,
70,
80) capable of being refilled
by a refill bottle (
100) containing refill fluid, the refill bottle including
an outlet passage (
106) closed by a fluid seal (
104), the fluid reservoir comprising:
an inlet passage (
44,
52,
60,
74,
84);
a support structure for holding the refill bottle (
100) within the inlet
passage in an orientation to encourage fluid in the refill bottle to flow into
the inlet passage of the fluid reservoir, the support structure having a centrally
disposed first opening in a bottom thereof; and
a piercing structure configured to surround the first opening, the piercing structure
having a continuous first end in contact with the bottom of the support structure
and a continuous distal end, portions of the distal end formed into a thin edge
to pierce a seal of the refill bottle.
2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first means is integrally formed
as part of the inlet passage of the reservoir.
3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the support structure is configured
to support refill bottle in an orientation that is neither vertical nor horizontal.
4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the support structure includes a
housing having a central first axis which is configured at a non-zero vertical
or horizontal angle relative to the inlet.
5. A fluid reservoir (
44,
52,
60,
84) capable of
being refilled by a refill bottle (
100) containing refill fluid, the refill
bottle including an outlet passage (
106) closed by a fluid seal (
104),
the fluid reservoir comprising:
a housing (
202) having a bottom with an opening therein defining an inlet
passage into the reservoir, a peripheral wall defining an open mouth for receiving
the fluid bottle, and an inlet passage (
44,
52,
60,
74,
84), the housing configured to receive the refill bottle thereon;
a plurality of spaced ribs configured to pierce the liquid seal as the refill
bottle is placed upon the housing, each rib including a first and a second end
and a body, each rib spanning the fluid inlet and spaced apart from one another,
such spacing not blocking flow of fluid from the refill bottle, each of the first
ends joined together at a common location apart from edges of the inlet passage,
at least one piecing formation located proximate the common location.
6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the at least one piercing formation
terminates below an outer end of the wall of the housing.
7. The device as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of piercing elements
generally positioned about the opening in the bottom.
8. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the inlet passage of the reservoir
and the housing are configured to present the bottom at an angle that is not horizontal.
9. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein an axis through the inlet passage
of the reservoir is generally vertical and wherein a center axis of the housing
is angled relative to the axis of the inlet passage.
10. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the piercing structure includes
a tapered wall extending between the first and second ends.
11. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein adjacent portions of the tapered
wall, not including the thin edge to pierce the seal, are recessed below the thin
edge forming a valley between adjacent thin edges.
12. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the common location at which the
spaced ribs connect includes a second opening for fluid in the refill bottle to
flow into the reservoir.
13. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first end of the piercing, where
it connects to the bottom, is spaced apart by first spacing from a side wall of
the inlet passage and wherein the bottom, with this first spacing, includes at
least one additional flow opening.
14. A fluid reservoir (
44,
52,
60,
84) capable of
being refilled by a refill bottle (
100) containing refill fluid, the refill
bottle including an outlet passage (
106) closed by a fluid seal (
104),
the fluid reservoir comprising:
a housing (
202) having a bottom with an opening therein defining an inlet
passage into the reservoir, a peripheral wall defining an open mouth for receiving
the fluid bottle, and an inlet passage (
44,
52,
60,
74,
84), the housing configured to receive the refill bottle on the mouth;
the mouth oriented at an angle to the housing and configured to be installed
to a mounting structure so that an axis through the mouth is at an angle that is
between vertical and horizontal to facilitate receipt of the refill bottle.
Description
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for refilling fluid
bottles, reservoirs and the like such as containers typically mounted within and
about the engine compartment of an automotive vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for
reestablishing a desired level of various vehicle fluids.
A further object of the present invention is to be able to refill such fluids
without
the use of a separate funnel. An additional object of the present invention is
to automatically tear the foil seal typically used on refill fluid bottles without
having first to manually remove the foil or seal. Accordingly the invention comprises:
a fluid bottle or storage chamber capable of being refilled by a refill bottle,
the refill bottle including an outlet passage closed by a fluid seal, the fluid
reservoir, bottle or chamber comprising: an inlet passage; first means for receiving
and supporting the refill bottle in an orientation to encourage fluid in the refill
bottle to flow into the inlet passage of the fluid reservoir bottle or storage
chamber and second means for piercing the fluid seal as the refill bottle is placed
upon the first means.
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following
detailed description of the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates an engine compartment of a motor vehicle.
FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the construction of a typical fluid carrying
refill bottle.
FIG. 3 is a side plan view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 4 and 4
a are top isometric views showing the major portions of
the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a refill bottle showing a use of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a further embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a further alternative embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 9-10 show a further alternate embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates a further alternative of the invention.
FIG. 12 illustrates the invention in use within an engine compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 diagrammatically represents an engine compartment
30 of a typical
motor vehicle
32. The engine
34 and cooperating radiator
36
are typically positioned between the inner fender walls
38 and
40
and below the hood
42. The radiator
36 typically includes a snorkel
or inlet
44, which is closed by a manually sealed cap
46. Associated
with the radiator is an expansion tank, chamber, reservoir or bottle
50
having a snorkel or inlet passage
52, which is sealed by a manually displaceable
cap
54. For the sake of generality, the bottle
50 is shown having
an arbitrary shape (see numeral
56) to show these bottles or chambers can
be molded to fit within the available space within and about the engine compartment
30. Numeral
51 is representative of the antifreeze that is stored
within the tank, chamber, reservoir or bottle
50.
The engine
34 includes another fluid inlet passage such as a fill tube
60 for replenishing engine oil. This tube
60 is typically closed
by a removable (press-fit or threaded) cap
62. Numeral
64 diagrammatically
illustrates the engine oil within the engine
34 (as used herein the engine
is generally referred to as the reservoir for the oil as well as refill oil/fluid).
Additionally, another fluid reservoir
70 is located within or
proximate the engine compartment. This fluid reservoir (chamber or bottle)
70
typically stores windshield wiper fluid shown as numeral
72. The reservoir,
chamber or bottle
70 includes an inlet passage or neck
74, enclosed
by a resealable cap
76.
Numeral
80 designates the power steering pump with the power steering
fluid shown by numeral
82. The power steering pump typically includes another
inlet passage, snorkel or neck
84, which is closed by a resealable lid
86.
Reference is made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a typical fluid refill bottle
100 for automotive fluids, which is often made of a blow-molded or injection-molded
plastic. The bottle
100 includes a hollow neck
102, which serves
as both an inlet and exit passage for the replacement fluid. The neck is sealed
with, for example, a thin aluminum foil
104 that is typically sealed or
glued to the bottle
100 about the peripheral edge of the open mouth of the
neck
102. The length of the neck and the volume of the refill bottle
100
will vary with the use of the refill bottle. The neck and in particular the exit
passage
106 thereof is sealed by a manually removable cap
108, which
is often threaded in place or snapped on the bottle
100. The bottle
100
may include exterior threads
110 in which case the cap will also include
mating threads and is threaded upon the bottle. Alternatively, the cap
108
is designed to snap upon a rim or ridge located about the end of the neck
102
(not shown).
During the normal operation of the vehicle, a mechanic or operator of the
vehicle will typically check the sufficiency of the various fluids in the vehicle
such as the level of antifreeze, motor oil, power steering fluid and windshield
washer solvent. If the level of such fluid or fluids is sufficiently low, the mechanic
or operator will obtain replacement fluid, which is typically stored in a refill
bottle or container
100, such as illustrated in FIG. 2. Subsequently, the
aluminum foil
104 is manually pierced or removed. The respective lid or
cap
46,
54,
76 or
86 of the vehicle mounted reservoir
is removed; a funnel is inserted within the inlet passage or fill tube of the vehicle
mounted reservoir; and subsequently the bottle
100 with the replacement
fluid is inverted and the fluid is transferred to the respective fluid storage
container within the vehicle.
Some mechanics and vehicle operators will try to not use a funnel when refilling
vehicle fluids by slowly tipping and carefully aiming the fluid at the open mouth
of inlet passage of each respective reservoir. This procedure is often unsuccessful
with fluid pouring on the engine and onto an adjacent floor.
Reference is made to FIG. 3, which illustrates an exemplary inlet passage
or tube such as
44,
52,
60,
74 or
84 for receiving
one of the above-mentioned fluids and for refilling the associated fluid storage
bottle or chamber. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a fill mechanism
200
is integrally formed at the top of the inlet passage
44,
52,
60,
74 and/or
84. The fill mechanism
200 includes a cup-like structure
or housing
202 having a peripheral outer wall
204 and a bottom
206.
The structure
202 has an open mouth. The bottom
206 extends into
the respective inlet passage tube
44,
56,
60, etc. The interior
diameter of the wall
204 is designated by D
f. The diameter D
f
is chosen to be slightly larger than the outer diameter D
b (see FIG.
2) of the neck of the refill bottle. The refill mechanism
200 includes one
or more piercing or cutting formations
210, which extend upwardly toward
the open mouth of the housing
202 from the bottom
206 or alternately
from the walls
204.
In the embodiment of FIG. 3, these piercing formations
210 are formed
as
extending projections
214, which extend outwardly from the bottom
206
and surround a central opening
212 (formed by the bottom
206) in
the housing
202. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3,
4 and
4a,
the projections
214 taper side-to-side and front-to-back to define a thin
blade-like edge about the opening
212. The side and top edges of the projections
are pointed and act as piecing or cutting surfaces to cut through the seal as the
refill bottle
100 is pushed axially onto the piecing formations
210
or as the refill bottle
100 is rotated relative to the piecing formations
210 and the housing
202. As can be noted in the figures a corresponding
recess
216 is located between each projection
214, which facilitates
transfer of refill fluid into the receiving reservoir and air out of the receiving
reservoir. Reference is also made to FIGS. 4 and 4
a, which additionally
illustrate a plurality of optional drain passages
218 formed in the bottom
206, outboard of the piercing projections
214. These drain passages
218 permit drainage of fluid from the region between the projections
214
and the wall
204.
FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the present invention in which a sealed refill
bottle
100, such as a conventionally constructed refill bottle for power
steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, oil and/or antifreeze, has been positioned
directly above the refill mechanism
200 of the particular reservoir to be
refilled. In this orientation none of the piercing projections
214 has pierced
the foil seal
104. Subsequently, the refill bottle
100 is pushed
down upon the projections
214 or pushed down and simultaneously rotated.
The downward placement of the refill bottle
100 upon the bottom
206
is shown by phantom line
220. As the bottle
100 is lowered upon the
projections
214, the respective projections
214 tear an opening through
the foil seal
104, thereby permitting the refill fluid to enter the inlet
44,
52,
60,
74,
84 of the appropriate reservoir,
chamber, pump or bottle
50,
70,
80. After the entire volume
of fluid within the refill bottle has been transferred into the appropriate fluid
storage chamber or bottle, the refill bottle
100 is removed from the refill
mechanism
200.
Reference is again made to FIGS. 3 and 5 and more particularly to the phantom
lines
222. These phantom lines show the walls
204 can be lengthened
to extend outwardly beyond the dimension of the piercing projections
214.
Placement of the projections
214 and the recesses
216 and
the additional drainage openings
218 permits the refill fluid to enter into
the storage reservoir, bottle or chamber while permitting air in such reservoir,
the storage bottles or chambers to enter into the refill bottle, thereby facilitating
and speeding fluid transfer.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a refill mechanism
200a.
In the earlier embodiment, the refill mechanism
200 was formed integrally
with the fill tube of the fluid reservoir. In this embodiment, the refill mechanism
200a is designed to be manually secured to a preexisting fill tube,
such as tube
44,
52,
60,
74 and
84. The fill
mechanism
200a is substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 3
with the exception that the fill mechanism
200a includes a downwardly
extending neck
230, defining a hollow passage
232. The neck includes
an interlocking feature such as a helical thread
234 designed to mate upon
the preexisting thread
240 of the inlet, fill tube or neck of the particular
reservoir, storage bottle or chamber. In operation, the factory-installed cap enclosing
the fill tube is removed and the fill mechanism
200a is threaded
in place. The fill mechanism
200a also includes a replaceable cap
250, which is received upon the wall
204 of housing
202.
For the purpose of illustration, FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention
in which a refill mechanism
200b is designed to be attached to a
preexisting fill tube or opening of a fluid reservoir. The fill mechanism
200b
is designed to work with inlet tubes of the class that utilize a snap-fitting
cap. Typically these inlet tubes include a peripheral groove
260 to receive
a mating projection of the cap (not shown). In FIG. 7, this mating projection
262
is integrated within the neck
230 of the refill housing
202. To attach
the refill mechanism
200b to the inlet tube, the refill mechanism
200b is aligned to the tube and moved downwardly (see arrow
264)
until it is snapped in place.
FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which may have application
in regard to refill bottles of engine oil. In some engines the inlet passage is
very short or non-existent, see inlet opening
300 in FIG. 8, and may be
formed into the engine's valve cover gasket. More particularly, the gasket is formed
with an opening
302 that does not extend above the level of the housing
304. The opening
302 is typically threaded for receipt of an oil
cap. In the present invention the preexisting oil cap is removed and replaced with
the refill mechanism
200c, which includes outwardly directed threads
308, which mate with threads
310 about hole
302. This fill
mechanism
200c may also include a corresponding closure cap
250.
Reference is made to FIGS. 9-10, which illustrate a further embodiment
of the present invention. In this embodiment the refill mechanism
200d
includes a housing
202 having a peripheral wall
204 defining
an inlet of diameter D
f. Extending upwardly from a bottom
206
of the mechanism
200d are three outwardly extending thin ribs
350a,
350b and
350c. Each of the ribs can be arcuately shaped
or straight and they are joined together generally at their respective tops shown
by numeral
352. This top region
352 is located generally in the center
of the housing
202. Additionally, a central opening
360 is formed
in the top center region of the ribs. The top region having the opening
360
can be angled to facilitate breaking of the seal
104 of the refill bottle.
An edge about the opening
360 formed by the respective ribs
350a-
350c
forms at least one piercing formation or projection
362 to facilitate
the tearing of the refill bottle seal
102 upon its initial insertion. Upon
the breaking of the seal
102, the fluid flows into the storage chamber or
bottle through opening
360 as well as through the intra-rib spaces
370.
Reference is briefly made to FIG. 11. One common aspect of the earlier
embodiments is the central axis of each of the refill mechanisms is collinear with
the central axis of the inlet passage of the reservoir, storage bottle or chamber.
The variation of the invention shown in FIG. 12 positions the central axis
502
of the fill mechanism
200e at an angle relative to the central axis
504 of the fluid bottle or stored chamber
44,
52,
60,
84. For example, in many vehicle installations the inlet passage of the
fluid bottle is vertically oriented; by using the present embodiment the refill
bottle
100 can be opened by, for example, projections
214 within
the refill bottle
100. In this embodiment the refill bottle is inserted
into the refill mechanism at an angle that is off of vertical, which might be more
convenient for the mechanic or user.
Reference is made to FIG. 12, which is substantially identical to FIG.
1. In FIG. 12 the coolant reservoir
50, oil fill tube
60 and the
power steering reservoir
80 have been modified for use with the present
invention. For example, the inlet passage
52 of the coolant reservoir now
includes the refill mechanism
200. A coolant refill bottle
100 is
shown seated upon the projections
214, which have pierced the fluid seal
104 and replacement coolant flows from bottle
100 into the reservoir
50. The oil fill tube
60 has been modified to receive another refill
mechanism
200e, which shows the off-set orientation between the refill
mechanism
200e and the fill passage to receive the off-vertical placement
of another type of refill bottle
100a, such as a replacement bottle
of fuel oil. The steering fluid reservoir
80 and its corresponding inlet
84 have been modified to receive the manually removable refill mechanism
200c, which has been threaded into the neck
84 of reservoir
80. Another refill bottle
100 of replacement steering fluid is shown
seated upon the refill mechanism
200a.
Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiment of the invention
can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly,
that scope is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
*
