BRACKETLESS WINDSHIELD WASHER TANK MOUNTING

• US 20080142524A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Thomas, Mark A., Baggett, Raymond W.
• Application Number:
  US11/609,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20080142524A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/562
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/50 Arrangement of reservoir

Abstract

A blow-molded tank is provided having tack-off features located within the periphery of the fluid containing volume of the tank. The tack-off features are formed by pinching together a portion of the parison in the mold, thereby bonding a portion of the opposing faces of the tank together. The tack-off features are used to conveniently mount the blow-molded tank to a vehicle without requiring the use of a bracket. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A vehicle for operation on the ground, said vehicle having a body and a chassis, comprising:

a blow-molded tank having a front face, a rear face, and at least one tack-off feature located within the periphery of the fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank, said at least one tack-off feature being characterized by at least one cup-shaped hollow, said at least one cup-shaped hollow being provided with a mounting hole; and

at least one mounting fastener extending through said mounting hole in said at least one cup-shaped hollow of said at least one tack-off feature and attaching said blow-molded tank to said vehicle.

2. The vehicle for operation on the ground of claim 1, wherein:

said blow-molded tank further comprises a windshield washer fluid tank.

3. The vehicle for operation on the ground of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one tack-off feature further comprises a single cup-shaped hollow formed in said front face of said blow-molded tank.

4. The vehicle for operation on the ground of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one tack-off feature further comprises a first cup-shaped hollow formed in said front face of said blow-molded tank and a second cup-shaped hollow formed in said rear face of said blow-molded tank.

5. The vehicle for operation on the ground of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one cup-shaped hollow of said at least one tack-off feature is fully encompassed by fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank.

6. The vehicle for operation on the ground of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one cup-shaped hollow of said at least one tack-off feature is partially encompassed by fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank.

7. The vehicle for operation on the ground of claim 1, wherein:

said blow-molded tank further comprises indexing protrusions located upon said rear face, said indexing protrusions engaging compatible features located upon said vehicle.

8. A vehicle fluid storage system, said vehicle fluid storage system comprising:

a blow-molded tank having a front face, a rear face, and at least one tack-off feature located within the periphery of the fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank, said at least one tack-off feature being characterized by at least one cup-shaped hollow, said at least one cup-shaped hollow being provided with a mounting hole; and

at least one mounting fastener extending through said mounting hole in said at least one cup-shaped hollow of said at least one tack-off feature and attaching said blow-molded tank to a vehicle.

9. The vehicle fluid storage system of claim 8, wherein:

said vehicle fluid storage system further comprises a windshield washer fluid storage system, and said blow-molded tank further comprises a windshield washer fluid tank.

10. The vehicle fluid storage system of claim 8, wherein:

said at least one tack-off feature further comprises a single cup-shaped hollow formed in said front face of said blow-molded tank.

11. The vehicle fluid storage system of claim 8, wherein:

said at least one tack-off feature further comprises a first cup-shaped hollow formed in said front face of said blow-molded tank and a second cup-shaped hollow formed in said rear face of said blow-molded tank.

12. The vehicle fluid storage system of claim 8, wherein:

said at least one cup-shaped hollow of said at least one tack-off feature is fully encompassed by fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank.

13. The vehicle fluid storage system of claim 8, wherein:

said at least one cup-shaped hollow of said at least one tack-off feature is partially encompassed by fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank.

14. The vehicle fluid storage system of claim 8, wherein:

said blow-molded tank further comprises indexing protrusions located upon said rear face, said indexing protrusions engaging compatible features located upon said vehicle.

15. A blow-molded tank, comprising:

a front face, a rear face, and at least one tack-off feature located within the periphery of the fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank, said at least one tack-off feature being characterized by at least one cup-shaped hollow, said at least one cup-shaped hollow being provided with a mounting hole.

16. The blow-molded tank of claim 15, wherein:

said at least one tack-off feature further comprises a single cup-shaped hollow formed in said front face of said blow-molded tank.

17. The blow-molded tank of claim 15, wherein:

said at least one tack-off feature further comprises a first cup-shaped hollow formed in said front face of said blow-molded tank and a second cup-shaped hollow formed in said rear face of said blow-molded tank.

18. The blow-molded tank of claim 15, wherein:

said at least one cup-shaped hollow of said at least one tack-off feature is fully encompassed by fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank.

19. The blow-molded tank of claim 15, wherein:

said at least one cup-shaped hollow of said at least one tack-off feature is partially encompassed by fluid-containing volume of said blow-molded tank.

20. The blow-molded tank of claim 15, wherein:

said blow-molded tank further comprises indexing protrusions located upon said rear face.