Antifreeze dyeing systems and methods

• US 9,399,205 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William C. Kughn
• Original Assignee: William C. Kughn
• Inventors: Kughn, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley, Charles
• Application Number:
  US13/619,840
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 366/130, 366/134, 366/162.1, 366/173.1, 366/177.1, 366/181.8, 366/182.2, 366/190, 222/129, 206/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/846 using stored recipes for determining the composition of the mixture to be produced, i.e. for determining the amounts of the basic components to be dispensed from the component receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/50 Mixing receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/80 Forming a predetermined ratio of the substances to be mixed controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid or fluent material G05D11/02

Abstract

Systems and methods relating to improvements in end-user selected antifreeze engine coolant purchased at automotive retail stores. Additionally, antifreeze dyeing systems and methods are disclosed to provide single inventory bulk colorless antifreeze and small inventory custom dye to closely match Original End Manufacturer (OEM) colored antifreeze; and, reduce costs of product and inventory of multiple antifreeze colors, types and containers.

Claims

1. A system relating to custom dying colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze to economically provide at least one desired engine coolant color for at least one selected vehicle type, comprising:

a) at least one plurality of pre-packaged containers of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze; and

b) at least one plurality of antifreeze-color-dye containers;

c) wherein each said at least one plurality of antifreeze-color-dye container comprises at least one antifreeze color-dye structured and arranged to color dye at least one of said at least one plurality of pre-packaged containers of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze;

d) wherein a selected quantity of colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze may be custom colored by transferring color-dye from at least one of said at least one plurality of antifreeze color-dye containers to at least one selected quantity of colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said antifreeze color-dye comprises at least one pre-measured color-dye packet structured and arranged to color dye at least one said at least one pre-packaged container of colorless coolant.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said at least one antifreeze dye comprises at least one squeezable packet structured and arranged to assist transfer of the dye to at least one said at least one pre-packaged antifreeze container.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said at least one pre-packaged container of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze comprises at least hybrid organic acid technology antifreeze (HOAT).

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said at least one pre-packaged container of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze at least meets the ASTM International D6210 standard for ethylene glycol coolant.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein said at least one pre-packaged antifreeze container comprises at least one container structured and arranged to contain from about one-gallon to about 5-gallons of colorless anti-freeze.

7. The system according to claim 5 wherein each said at least one plurality of antifreeze-color-dye containers comprises at least one-half ounce of concentrated dye structured and arranged to color-dye at least one one-gallon pre-packaged container of colorless coolant.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pre-packaged antifreeze container comprises at least one about one-gallon container.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pre-packaged antifreeze container comprises at least one container structured and arranged to contain from about one-gallon to about 5-gallons of colorless anti-freeze.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pre-packaged container of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze comprises at least hybrid organic acid technology antifreeze (HOAT).

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pre-packaged container of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze at least meets the ASTM International D6210 standard for ethylene glycol coolant.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pre-packaged container of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze comprises at least one concentration of freeze protection chemical.

13. The system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one chart-assessor adapted to chart-assess, relating to such at least one selected vehicle type, the at least one desired engine coolant color.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein each said at least one plurality of antifreeze-color-dye containers comprises at least one-half ounce of concentrated dye structured and arranged to color-dye at least one one-gallon pre-packaged container of colorless coolant.

15. A system relating to user-selection of at least one custom-dyable colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze to economically provide at least one desired engine coolant color for at least one selected vehicle type, comprising:

a) at least one point of sale display comprising

i) at least one plurality of pre-packaged containers of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze;

ii) at least one plurality of antifreeze-color-dye containers;

iii) wherein each said at least one plurality of antifreeze-color-dye containers is structured and arranged to color dye at least one of said at least one plurality of pre-packaged containers of colorless vehicle engine coolant antifreeze;

iv) at least one chart-assessor structured and arranged to chart-assess, relating to such at least one selected vehicle type, the at least one desired engine coolant color;

v) wherein said at least one chart-assessor comprises at least one color-dye selector structured and arranged to assist selection of at least one color-dye container relating to such at least one selected vehicle type antifreeze color;

vi) wherein a selected quantity of colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze may be custom colored by transferring color-dye from at least one of said at least one plurality of antifreeze color-dye containers to at least one selected quantity of colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze;

vii) wherein a selected quantity of colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze may be custom colored by transferring color-dye from at least one of said at least one plurality of antifreeze color-dye containers to at least one selected quantity of colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze; and

b) wherein at least one user-selection of the at least one custom dyable colorless pre-packaged vehicle engine coolant antifreeze to economically provide at least one desired engine coolant color for at least one selected vehicle type is provided.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said at least one chart-assessor comprises at least one electronic interface structured and arranged to assist user-selection of at least one color-dye container relating to such at least one selected vehicle type antifreeze color.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein said at least one point of sale display comprises at least one electronic interface structured and arranged to assist user-selection of such at least one selected vehicle type antifreeze and antifreeze color.

18. The system according to claim 15 wherein each said at least one plurality of antifreeze-color-dye containers comprises at least one-half ounce of concentrated dye structured and arranged to color-dye at least one one-gallon pre-packaged container of colorless coolant.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein said at least one pre-packaged antifreeze container comprises at least one container structured and arranged to contain from about one-gallon to about 5-gallons of colorless anti-freeze.

20. A method relating to providing of products enabling end-user dying of at least one colorless pre-packaged vehicle-engine antifreeze coolant to economically provide at least one selected vehicle-engine antifreeze-coolant color for at least one selected vehicle type, comprising the steps of:

a) assessing (OEM) antifreeze coolant requirements and colors for at least one selected set of (OEM) antifreeze coolant products;

b) providing, in pre-packaged containers, at least one colorless vehicle-engine antifreeze coolant meeting substantially the (OEM) antifreeze coolant requirements of such selected set of (OEM) antifreeze coolant products;

c) providing, in pre-packaged containers, antifreeze-color-dyes configured to color-match such at least one colorless vehicle-engine antifreeze coolant to the respective colors of the (OEM) antifreeze coolant products of such selected set;

d) providing at least one chart-assessor structured and arranged to assist a user to chart-assess, relating to such at least one selected vehicle type, selection of such antifreeze-color-dye to be mixed with such at least one colorless vehicle-engine antifreeze coolant to color-match such at least one colorless vehicle-engine antifreeze coolant to the respective color of the user'"'"'s (OEM) antifreeze coolant product; and

e) providing at least one point of sale display containing such pre-packaged containers of such at least one colorless vehicle-engine antifreeze coolant, such pre-packaged containers of such antifreeze-color-dye, and at least one chart-assessor;

f) wherein products enabling end-user dying of such at least one colorless pre-packaged vehicle-engine antifreeze coolant to economically provide the at least one selected vehicle-engine antifreeze-coolant color for the at least one selected vehicle type are provided.