Smart oil cap with adaptive plug
The smart cap includes at least one replaceable rubber band that is used to plug the smart cap into the oil inlet of the automobile. Because the rubber band can compress and expand inside the oil inlet, the band provides a snug fix to various number oil cap sizes, i.e., the diameter of the oil inlet. Furthermore, the band can be used to grip the inner threads of the oil inlet and plugged in the ear, slot type oil inlets. Once the smart cap is inserted, a funnel can be inserted into the opposite end of the rubber band for pouring the motor oil. The smart cap can also be implemented with slots. These slots are used to insert an adaptor. This adaptor can be made with a wing, ear, and slot type oil cap. Hence, when a car is a wing type oil cap, the smart cap can be inserted with a wing type oil cap to be screwed into the oil valve, and a funnel can be inserted in the opposite end for pouring of the engine oil. The inventive smart cap is particularly useful on engines with baffle plates under the oil valve.
This invention relates generally to an adaptive plug that can be attached with a funnel that will not allow oil spills during oil change.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONIt is known that there are approximated 70 plus different models of oil caps in the market and differing between make and model of the automobile. The oil cap can be thread, slot, ear, wing type. Oil caps with threads differ in terms of size and design of the threads.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,983 discloses an oil cap having a self contained funnel, see
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,502 discloses a funnel integrated with screw threads that can directly attach to the engine. In so doing, during oil change, the lid of the funnel can be opened to pour in the oil without spillage. The problem again is that the No spill oil filler 20 is customized for the make and model of the car.
Currently, oil changes traditionally only use a funnel to perform oil change. Many funnel designs are commercially available varying in size, design and function. These funnels are inserted into the oil inlet to allow easy pouring of engine oil into the engine.
The use of the funnel has not been a problem. However, not all cars allow easy access of the funnel. In particular, Toyota cars such as the Camry, Avalon, Lexus, and Corolla include a baffle plate right below oil inlet. The baffle plate makes it difficult for the funnel to the properly inserted into oil inlet for easy pouring. The person performing the oil change has to tilt the funnel into oil inlet, hold the funnel, and then pour in the oil slowly to avoid spillage. This process is time consuming and cumbersome.
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of prior inventions by using a smart cap for stopping oil spillage for various make and model of cars during oil change.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe smart cap includes a replaceable rubber band/O'Ring insert that is used to plug the smart cap into the oil inlet of the automobile. Because the rubber band can compress and expand inside oil inlet, the band provides a snug fix to various number oil cap sizes, i.e., the diameter of oil inlet. The band can also be gripped by the inner threads of the valve cover oil inlet or plugged into the ears or slot type oil inlet. Once the smart cap is in placed, a funnel can be inserted into the either ends for pouring the motor oil. The smart cap can also be made with slots. These slots are used to insert an adaptor(s). This adaptor can be made with a wing type or ear type oil cap. Hence, when a car is ear type oil cap, the smart cap can insert the ear type adaptor into the slots.
Furthermore, the smart cap can also be implemented with two replaceable rubber bands on opposite ends varying in size. In particular, the each neck is concaved to support the replaceable rubber bands. Each neck is customized to fit different number of oil sizes and type.
The same Smart cap (1) of
While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to by the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1.) A Smart cap used for spill free oil change comprising: a opening for a funnel to be inserted; an hand grip portion; a first neck with a concave; a first washer; a replaceable rubber band placed around the concave portion; wherein the first neck with the replaceable rubber band is plugged or twisted into a oil inlet of a car for performing oil changes.
2.) The cap according to claim 1, wherein the replaceable rubber band is O'ring and circular.
3.) The cap according to claim 1, further comprising a slot Insert for inserting an adaptor on to the cap.
4.) The cap according to claim 3, wherein said adaptor can be adapted a wing, slot, ear type oil caps.
5.) The cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap includes a second neck.
6.) The cap according to claim 6, wherein the cap includes a second neck with a second concave portion for holding a second replaceable rubber band.
7.) The cap according to claim 7, wherein the second neck has a different diameter than the first neck.
8.) The cap according to claim 7, wherein the second replaceable rubber band has a different size and circumference than the rubber band.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 1, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 4, 2008
Inventor: Yong Pom Kim (Annandale, VA)
Application Number: 11/806,537