Oil change meter

• US 7,449,995 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eula Clanton-Holloway
• Original Assignee: Eula Clanton-Holloway
• Inventors: Clanton-Holloway, Eula
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/273,499
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/457.4, 340/439, 340/450.2, 340/450.3, 701/21, 701/29, 701/30
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance

Abstract

An indicator device used in a vehicle to inform the user when or how many miles are left until said vehicle requires an oil change. Comprising the present invention is an interface having a trip reset button to be installed to a vehicle'"'"'s dashboard having a display to indicate the amount of miles remaining for the effective life left in the oil, and a second colored indicator that lights up one default color (typically green) while the oil is good, and then also flashes a different color (typically red) when the oil has reached it'"'"'s expiration.

Claims

1. An oil change indicator meter for providing a visual indicator for informing a driver as to when the next oil change for a motor vehicle is due comprising:

a) a visual countdown display on a dashboard of a vehicle having a reset switch for setting a number of miles for the next oil change after an oil change has been made including a first screen showing a countdown of miles, said visual countdown display being interfaced with a vehicle odometer for counting down miles based upon said odometer;

b) a second screen below said first screen in said display programmed to light up once the preset mileage has been reached, said second screen glowing red when an oil change needs to be performed, and glowing green when a no oil change status is in effect;

c) said second screen displaying a change oil text message on the red screen when an oil change needs to be performed, said reset switch located below said first screen and next to said second screen; and

e) a digital timing device that automatically initiates said second screen to indicate an oil change is required after a preset amount of time has passed before mileage countdown reaches zero since the last oil change and overrides the mileage countdown of miles.

2. A method of indicating that an oil change in a vehicle is due comprising the steps of:

a) a user presetting a first screen in said visual display on a dashboard of said vehicle with a number of miles to a next oil change;

b) said visual display interfacing with an odometer of said vehicle to count down miles until zero mileage is reached;

c) a second screen on said visual display changing color and flashing a text message when zero mileage is reached on said first screen; and

d) a digital timing device overriding said visual display when a preset amount of time is reached since a last oil change indicating on said second screen that another oil change is due regardless of any mileage remaining on said first screen of said visual display.