Fluid drain

{
  "publication_number": "US9464757B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fluid drain",
  "abstract": "A fluid drain may include a fluid reservoir comprising a lower tube inlet that opens into the fluid reservoir, a lower tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube inlet, and an upper tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube. The fluid drain may further include an upper tube clamp having an opening therein, wherein the upper tube is positioned within the opening in the upper tube clamp and the upper tube clamp is configured to remain attached to the upper tube upon removal of the upper tube from the lower tube.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A fluid drain, comprising: a fluid reservoir comprising a lower tube inlet that opens into the fluid reservoir; a lower tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube inlet; an upper tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube; an upper tube clamp having an opening therein, wherein the upper tube is positioned within the opening in the upper tube clamp and the upper tube clamp is configured to remain attached to the upper tube upon removal of the upper tube from the lower tube; and a tool pan adjustably connected to the lower tube and including an opening through a center of the tool pan, wherein the lower tube is positioned within the opening through the center of the tool pan, a plurality of arms that extend radially from the center of the tool pan, an outer arcuate member connected to the plurality of arms, wherein the outer arcuate member terminates in a first end comprising a first hook and a second end comprising a second hook, at least one recessed shelf between two of the plurality of arms, and a grip defined by the outer arcuate member and an opening between two of the plurality of arms.",
    "2. The fluid drain of claim 1, wherein the upper tube clamp is a spring clip collar configured to rest on an upper lip of the lower tube during use of the fluid drain, wherein a position of the spring clip collar on the upper tube sets a height of the fluid drain.",
    "3. The fluid drain of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir further comprises a recessed filter shelf having a sloped floor that angles toward an opening within the sloped floor, and the opening within the sloped floor extends through an exterior of the fluid reservoir to an interior of the fluid reservoir.",
    "4. The fluid drain of claim 3, wherein the sloped floor comprises a plurality of angled panels that angle downward toward the opening within the sloped floor.",
    "5. The fluid drain of claim 1, further comprising a funnel connected to the upper tube and comprising a lower lip and an upper lip, wherein the upper lip protrudes between about 1.5 inches to about 1.8 inches from the lower lip.",
    "6. The fluid drain of claim 5, further comprising a removable dripping pan insert, wherein the removable dripping pan insert comprises a recess configured to receive the upper lip of the funnel and to be removably secured within the funnel thereby.",
    "7. The fluid drain of claim 1, wherein the upper tube clamp is an adjustable closed-loop clamp comprising a closed position and an open position, wherein the opening in the closed-loop clamp comprises a first diameter in the closed position and a second diameter in the open position, the second diameter is larger than the first diameter, the closed-loop clamp maintains a closed loop around an entirety of a circumference of the upper tube during adjustment of the adjustable closed-loop clamp, and the closed-loop clamp is configured to remain self-attached to the upper tube upon removal of the upper tube from the lower tube.",
    "8. A fluid drain, comprising: a fluid reservoir comprising a lower tube inlet that opens into the fluid reservoir; a lower tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube inlet and secured to the fluid reservoir by a lower tube clamp; an upper tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube; an upper tube clamp having an opening therein, wherein the upper tube is positioned within the opening in the upper tube clamp and the upper tube clamp is configured to remain attached to the upper tube upon removal of the upper tube from the lower tube; a recessed filter shelf on a top of the fluid reservoir, the recessed filter shelf comprising a sloped floor and an opening within the sloped floor, wherein the sloped floor angles downward toward the opening within the sloped floor, wherein the opening within the sloped floor extends through an exterior of the fluid reservoir to an interior of the fluid reservoir; a tool pan adjustably connected to the lower tube, wherein the tool pan comprises: an opening through a center of the tool pan, wherein the lower tube is positioned within the opening through the center of the tool pan; a plurality of arms that extend radially from the center of the tool pan; an outer arcuate member connected to the plurality of arms, wherein the outer arcuate member terminates in a first end comprising a first hook and a second end comprising a second hook; at least one recessed shelf between two of the plurality of arms; and a grip defined by the outer arcuate member and an opening between two of the plurality of arms.",
    "9. The fluid drain of claim 8, wherein the upper tube clamp is an adjustable closed-loop clamp comprising a closed position and an open position, wherein the opening in the closed-loop clamp comprises a first diameter in the closed position and a second diameter in the open position, the second diameter is larger than the first diameter, the closed-loop clamp maintains a closed loop around an entirety of a circumference of the upper tube during adjustment of the adjustable closed-loop clamp, and the closed-loop clamp is configured to remain self-attached to the upper tube upon removal of the upper tube from the lower tube.",
    "10. The fluid drain of claim 9, wherein the upper tube clamp is a spring clip collar configured to rest on an upper lip of the lower tube during use of the fluid drain, wherein a position of the spring clip collar on the upper tube sets a height of the fluid drain.",
    "11. The fluid drain of claim 9, wherein the sloped floor of the filter shelf comprises four angled panels that angle downward toward the opening within the sloped floor.",
    "12. The fluid drain of claim 11, further comprising a funnel connected to the upper tube and comprising a lower lip and an upper lip, wherein the upper lip of the funnel protrudes between about 1.5 inches to about 1.8 inches from the lower lip of the funnel.",
    "13. The fluid drain of claim 12, further comprising a removable dripping pan insert, wherein the removable dripping pan insert comprises a recess configured to receive the upper lip of the funnel and to be removably secured within the funnel thereby.",
    "14. A fluid drain, comprising: a fluid reservoir comprising a lower tube inlet that opens into the fluid reservoir; a lower tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube inlet; an upper tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube; and a tool pan adjustably connected to the lower tube, wherein the tool pan comprises: an opening through a center of the tool pan, wherein the lower tube is positioned within the opening through the center of the tool pan; a plurality of arms that extend radially from the center of the tool pan; an outer arcuate member connected to the plurality of arms, wherein the outer arcuate member terminates in a first end comprising a first hook and a second end comprising a second hook; at least one recessed shelf between two of the plurality of arms; and a grip defined by the outer arcuate member and an opening between two of the plurality of arms."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Telescoping fluid drains are used during routine maintenance of engines and transmissions of vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, heavy equipment, etc. Once the vehicle is elevated with a lift, the fluid drain is placed under a drain plug or other structure of the vehicle and telescopically elevated into position so that a drain pan or funnel is close to the underside of the vehicle. Once the funnel is in position, a drain plug is removed from the vehicle or a stopcock is opened and the oil or other fluid drains from the vehicle into the funnel. The fluid may be collected within a drain fluid reservoir.\n\nThe following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of one or more embodiments of the present teachings. This summary is not an extensive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the present teachings, nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. Rather, its primary purpose is merely to present one or more concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description presented later.\n\nIn an embodiment, a fluid drain may include a fluid reservoir comprising a lower tube inlet that opens into the fluid reservoir, a lower tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube inlet, an upper tube at least partially positioned within the lower tube, and an upper tube clamp having an opening therein, wherein the upper tube is positioned within the opening in the upper tube clamp and the upper tube clamp is configured to remain attached to the upper tube upon removal of the upper tube from the lower tube.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16N 31/004"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16N 31/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "SKF AB"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "David Mark Allen",
    "Canlong He"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-10-31",
  "publication_date": "2016-10-11",
  "grant_date": "2016-10-11",
  "priority_date": "2013-10-31",
  "application_number": "US-201314069035-A",
  "family_id": "52994256",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}