Engine oil filter socket wrench with built-in spillage cup

• US 6,227,078 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2000
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent John Jr. Lemmo
• Original Assignee: Vincent John Jr. Lemmo
• Inventors: Lemmo, Vincent John Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US09/515,426
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 81/3.09, 81/3.4, 81/120, 81/121.1, 81/124.6, 81/124.7, 81/180.1, 7/100
• US Class Current: 81/121.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/0042 Tools for removing or replacing filters or for draining oil; Tools for setting or loosening closure means for radiators, batteries, or the like

Abstract

An engine oil filter socket wrench with built-in spillage cup contains the oil that normally spills out when an oil filter is removed from an engine. The device consists of a smaller first cylinder for gripping an oil filter base and a larger second cylinder built concentrically around and above the smaller cylinder and forming a cup shaped reservoir capable of containing oil spillage. Protuberances projecting radially inward from the inside surface of the larger cylinder terminate in loose contact at the filter surface to provide alignment of the device about the filter and to provide a second means to grip the filter. The larger cylinder can be constricted of flexible material capable of being squeezed by hand to create a frictional grip on the oil filter body for the purpose of initially loosening the filter from its mount.

Claims

1. An oil filter socket wrench with built-in oil spillage cup for loosening and removing a spin-on engine oil filter and for containing oil spillage comprising:

a circular base having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a first substantially cylindrical member having an upper portion, a lower portion, an inner surface, and an outer surface;

said upper surface of said circular base affixed to said lower portion of said first substantially cylindrical member;

a second substantially cylindrical member having a substantially larger diameter than said first substantially cylindrical member and having an upper portion, a lower portion, an inner surface, and an outer surface;

an intermediate member securing the upper portion of the outer surface of said first substantially cylindrical member to the lower portion of the inner surface of said second substantially cylindrical member, wherein said first and said second substantially cylindrical members are concentric;

said circular base, said first and said second substantially cylindrical members, and said intermediate member forming a unified integral cup impermeable to engine oil for the purpose of containing oil spillage;

angled facets positioned about the inner surface of the lower portion of said first substantially cylindrical member for the purpose of engaging corresponding angled facets of an oil filter, wherein torque applied to the socket wrench is transmitted to an oil filter for the purpose of loosening and removing an oil filter;

protuberances positioned about the inner surface of said second substantially cylindrical member and extending radially inward to terminate in loose contact with an oil filter positioned within said socket wrench, wherein said protuberances are capable of providing alignment of said socket wrench about an oil filter;

a gap between the inner surface of said second substantially cylindrical member and an oil filter when the socket wrench is positioned about an oil filter, wherein said gap is of sufficient volume to contain oil spillage associated with loosening and removing an oil filter.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

means to attach a drive tool positioned on the lower surface of said circular base for the purpose of applying torque to said socket wrench;

wherein said first substantially cylindrical member and said circular base are constructed of a substantially rigid material capable of withstanding the stress of loosening and removing an oil filter without significant deformation.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said second substantially cylindrical member is constructed of flexible material capable of being deformed when squeezed by hand for the purpose of creating a frictional grip on an oil filter when said second substantially cylindrical member of said device is positioned about an oil filter for the purpose of loosening and removing an oil filter.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said unified integral cup is constructed of substantially rigid material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said unified integral cup is constructed of substantially flexible material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said first substantially cylindrical member is constructed of a substantially rigid material; and

said second substantially cylindrical member is constructed of a substantially flexible material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said gap has a volume equal to approximately thirty percent of the volume of an oil filter positioned and aligned within said device.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a lip affixed to the upper portion of the inner surface of said second substantially cylindrical member and facing inward to reduce spillage if tilted.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a circumference of said second substantially cylindrical member is approximately twenty percent larger than a circumference of said first substantially cylindrical member.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a bottom portion extending below said lower portion of said second substantially cylindrical member, wherein said bottom portion is capable of supporting said second substantially cylindrical member and said socket wrench in an upright manner when set on a level surface.

11. An oil filter socket wrench with built-in oil spillage cup for loosening and removing a spin-on engine oil filter and for containing oil spillage comprising:

a circular base having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a first substantially cylindrical member having an upper portion, a lower portion, an inner surface, and an outer surface;

said upper surface of said circular base affixed to said lower portion of said first substantially cylindrical member;

a second substantially cylindrical member having a substantially larger diameter and length than said first substantially cylindrical member and having an upper portion, a lower portion, an inner surface, and an outer surface;

an intermediate member securing the lower portion of the outer surface of said first substantially cylindrical member to the lower portion of the inner surface of said second substantially cylindrical member, wherein said first and said second substantially cylindrical members are concentric;

said circular base, said first and said second substantially cylindrical members, and said intermediate member forming a unified integral cup impermeable to engine oil for the purpose of containing oil spillage;

angled facets positioned about the inner surface of the lower portion of said first substantially cylindrical member for the purpose of engaging corresponding angled facets of an oil filter, wherein torque applied to the socket wrench is transmitted to an oil filter for the purpose of loosening and removing an oil filter;

protuberances positioned about the inner surface of said second substantially cylindrical member and extending radially inward to terminate in loose contact with an oil filter positioned within said socket wrench, wherein said protuberances are capable of providing alignment of said socket wrench about an oil filter;

a gap above said first substantially cylindrical member and between the inner surface of said second substantially cylindrical member and an oil filter when the socket wrench is positioned about an oil filter;

a void located above said intermediate member and between said first and said second substantially cylindrical members;

wherein said gap, in combination with said void, is of sufficient volume to contain oil spillage associated with the loosening and removing of an oil filter.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

means to attach a drive tool positioned on the lower surface of said circular base for the purpose of applying torque to said socket wrench;

wherein said first substantially cylindrical member and said circular base are constructed of a substantially rigid material capable of withstanding the stress of loosening and removing an oil filter without significant deformation.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein:

said second substantially cylindrical member is constructed of flexible material capable of being deformed when squeezed by hand for the purpose of creating a frictional grip on an oil filter when said second substantially cylindrical member of said device is positioned about an oil filter for the purpose of loosening and removing an oil filter.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein:

said unified integral cup is constructed of substantially rigid material.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein:

said unified integral cup is constructed of substantially flexible material.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein:

said first substantially cylindrical member is constructed of a substantially rigid material; and

said second substantially cylindrical member is constructed of a substantially flexible material.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein:

said gap, in combination with said void, has a volume equal to approximately thirty percent of the volume of an oil filter positioned and aligned within said device.

18. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a lip affixed to the upper portion of the inner surface of said second substantially cylindrical member and facing inward to reduce spillage if tilted.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein:

a circumference of said second substantially cylindrical member is approximately twenty percent larger than a circumference of said first substantially cylindrical member.

20. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a bottom portion extending below said lower portion of said second substantially cylindrical member, wherein said bottom portion is capable of supporting said second substantially cylindrical member and said socket wrench in an upright manner when set on a level surface.

21. An oil filter socket wrench with built-in oil spillage cup, comprising:

an oil filter socket wrench including a substantially cylindrical section with an upper portion, lower portion, inner surface, and outer surface;

an oil spillage cup including a substantially cylindrical section with an upper portion, lower portion, inner surface, and outer surface;

an intermediate member connecting said socket wrench to said oil spillage cup;

a lip of annular geometry positioned on the inner surface at the

upper portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said oil spillage cup;

protuberances circumferentially positioned on the inner surface of said oil spillage cup below said lip;

wherein

said socket wrench is concentrically positioned within said oil spillage cup;

said intermediate member connects the outer surface of the upper portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said socket wrench to the inner surface of the lower portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said oil spillage cup;

said socket wrench, said oil spillage cup, and said intermediate member forming a unified integral device impermeable to oil for the purpose of containing oil spillage.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein:

said oil spillage cup is a flexible member and is deformable when squeezed by hand to create a frictional grip between said protuberances and an oil filter when an oil filter is positioned within said oil spillage cup;

said socket wrench is substantially rigid.

23. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

a gap annularly positioned between said oil spillage cup and an oil filter when an oil filter is positioned within said cup;

wherein said gap defining a volume to contain oil spillage.

24. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

angled facets circumferentially positioned about the inner surface of the lower portion of said oil filter socket wrench for the purpose of engaging corresponding angled facets of an oil filter.

25. An oil filter socket wrench with built-in oil spillage cup, comprising:

an oil filter socket wrench including a substantially cylindrical section with an upper portion, lower portion, inner surface, and outer surface;

an oil spillage cup including a substantially cylindrical section with an upper portion, lower portion, inner surface, and outer surface;

an intermediate member connecting said socket wrench to said oil spillage cup;

a bottom portion extending below the lower portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said oil spillage cup;

wherein

said bottom portion is capable of supporting said socket wrench and said oil spillage cup upright when set on a level surface;

said socket wrench is concentrically positioned within said oil spillage cup;

said intermediate member connects the outer surface of the upper portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said socket wrench to the inner surface of the lower portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said oil spillage cup;

said socket wrench, said oil spillage cup, and said intermediate member forming a unified integral device impermeable to oil for the purpose of containing oil spillage.

26. The device of claim 25, further comprising:

angled facets circumferentially positioned about the inner surface of the lower portion of said oil filter socket wrench for the purpose of engaging corresponding angled facets of an oil filter.

27. An oil filter socket wrench with built-in oil spillage cup, comprising:

an oil filter socket wrench including a substantially cylindrical section with an upper portion, lower portion, inner surface, and outer surface;

an oil spillage cup including a substantially cylindrical section with an upper portion, lower portion, inner surface, and outer surface;

an intermediate member connecting said socket wrench to said oil spillage cup;

a lip of annular geometry positioned on the inner surface at the upper portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said oil spillage cup;

protuberances circumferentially positioned on the inner surface of said oil spillage cup below said lip;

wherein

said socket wrench is concentrically positioned within said oil spillage cup;

said intermediate member connects the outer surface of the lower portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said socket wrench to the inner surface of the lower portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said oil spillage cup;

said socket wrench, said oil spillage cup, and said intermediate member forming a unified integral device impermeable to oil for the purpose of containing oil spillage.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein:

said oil spillage cup is a flexible member and is deformable when squeezed by hand to create a frictional grip between said protuberances and an oil filter when an oil filter is positioned within said oil spillage cup;

said socket wrench is substantially rigid.

29. The device of claim 27, further comprising:

a gap annularly positioned between said oil spillage cup and an oil filter when an oil filter is positioned within said cup;

wherein

said gap defining a volume to contain oil spillage.

30. The device of claim 29, further comprising:

a void located above said intermediate member and between said first and said second substantially cylindrical members;

wherein

said void, in combination with said gap, define a volume to contain oil spillage.

31. The device of claim 27, further comprising:

angled facets circumferentially positioned about the inner surface of the lower portion of said oil filter socket wrench for the purpose of engaging corresponding angled facets of an oil filter.

32. An oil filter socket wrench with built-in oil spillage cup, comprising:

an oil filter socket wrench including a substantially cylindrical section with an upper portion, lower portion, inner surface, and outer surface;

an oil spillage cup including a substantially cylindrical section with an upper portion, lower portion, inner surface, and outer surface;

an intermediate member connecting said socket wrench to said oil spillage cup;

a bottom portion extending below the lower portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said oil spillage cup;

wherein

said bottom portion is capable of supporting said socket wrench and said oil spillage cup upright when set on a level surface;

said socket wrench is concentrically positioned within said oil spillage cup;

said intermediate member connects the outer surface of the lower portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said socket wrench to the inner surface of the lower portion of the substantially cylindrical section of said oil spillage cup;

said socket wrench, said oil spillage cup, and said intermediate member forming a unified integral device impermeable to oil for the purpose of containing oil spillage.

33. The device of claim 32, further comprising:

angled facets circumferentially positioned about the inner surface of the lower portion of said oil filter socket wrench for the purpose of engaging corresponding angled facets of an oil filter.

34. An entirely flexible oil spillage collecting device, comprising:

a cup shaped member with a bottom portion and a cylindrical body portion;

said cup shaped member formed to matingly engage angled facets located at an oil filter bottom;

an upper cylindrical member concentrically positioned around the cylindrical body portion of said cup shaped member;

a gap having a volume to contain oil spillage is present between said upper cylindrical member and an oil filter when an oil filter is positioned within said device;

protuberances circumferentially positioned on an inner surface of said upper cylindrical member capable of providing a frictional grip on an oil filter when an oil filter is positioned within said device;

a lip of annular geometry positioned on said upper cylindrical member above said protuberances.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein:

said device is molded from a synthetic rubber.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein:

said device is deformable when squeezed by hand to create a frictional grip between said device and an oil filter when an oil filter is positioned within said device.