Spool-type oil-dipstick wiper

The present invention relates to a spool-type oil-dipstick wiper.

Various types of oil-dipstick wiper devices have been proposed to facilitate wiping the oil-dipstick conventionally provided on motor vehicles for measuring the quantity of oil in the oil reservoir of the engine. Italian Patent 316783 of 1932 describes a spool-type oil-dipstick wiper including a pair of wiper elements contained within a spool-shaped housing such that the oil dipstick may be inserted between the two wiper elements in order to wipe the dipstick clean of oil. Insofar as I am aware, however, such a wiper device has not found widespread use, probably because the cost for manufacturing and assembling the device did not make it attractive to the public.

An object of the invention is to provide a spool-type oil-dipstick wiper device of a novel construction enabling such devices to be produced in volume and at low cost.

According to the present invention, there is provided a spool-type oil-dipstick wiper device, comprising two like spool sections each including an axially-extending hollow stem and a wiper element received on the stem of each of said two spool sections, characterized in that each of said hollow stems terminates in a plurality of circumferentially spaced jaws; the jaws of one section fitting into spaces between the jaws of the other section to define the hub of the spool when the two sections are assembled together; the outer faces of the jaws being formed with outer shoulders; and the inner faces of the hollow stem being formed with inner shoulders, such that, when the two sections are assembled together by inserting the jaws of one section into the hollow stem of the other section, the inner shoulder of the stem of one section is engageable by the outer shoulders of the jaws of the other section to firmly retain the two sections in assembled relation.

Spool-type oil-dipstick wipers constructed in accordance with the foregoing features may be produced and assembled in volume and at low cost.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of spool-type oil-dipstick wiper constructed in accordance with the present invention;
• Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the elements of the wiper of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the wiper of Fig. 1; and
• Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view along line IV--IV of Fig. 3.

The drawings illustrate a spool-type oil-dipstick wiper device to facilitate wiping the dipstick commonly provided for measuring the level of the oil in a motor vehicle engine. The device includes a housing, generally designated 2, formed of two like housing sections 2a, 2b assembled together with a wiper element 3 carried by each section such that the dipstick (not shown) may be inserted between the two wiper elements 3 and moved with respect to them in order to wipe the dipstick of the oil thereon. Each housing section 2a, 2b further includes a spacer element 4, for spacing the wiper element from the inner face of the respective housing section 2a, 2b, to define a compartment 5a, 5b for receiving excess oil wiped from the dipstick.

The two housing sections 2a, 2b are of like construction and include like elements, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 2.

Each of the two housing sections 2a, 2b includes a circular wall 20 formed at its outer periphery with an annular flange 21 joined to the respective wall to a curved juncture 22. In the assembled condition of the two housing sections 2a, 2b, the inner edges of the two flanges 21 are spaced from each other to define an annular gap 23 for receiving the dipstick.

Each of the two circular walls 20 is formed with an axially-extending hollow stem 24 terminating in a pair of circumferentially-spaced jaws 25, 26. The inner face of the hollow stem 24 is formed with an inner shoulder 24a (Fig. 4). The outer faces of the two jaws are formed with annular shoulders 25a, 26a, and with tapered tips 25b, 26b, terminating at the latter shoulders. The hollow stem 24 of each section communicates with an opening 27 formed centrally of wall 20 of each section.

The hollow stem 24 of each section is of cylindrical configuration, and the inner shoulder 24a formed on the inner surface of each stem is of annular configuration. In addition, the two jaws 25, 26 of each section have a curvature such that, when the two sections are assembled together, the two jaws of each section fit into the spaces between the two jaws of the other section so as to define a cylindrical hub.

Spacer element 4 provided in each housing section 2a, 2b is received with a friction fit in its respective section and is engageable with the inner face of the wiper element 3 included in the section so as to define compartments 5a, 5b for receiving any excess oil from the wiper element. Thus, each spacer element 4 includes an inner ring 40 of an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of its respective stem 24, and an outer ring 41 having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the flange 21 in its respective housing section. Each spacer element 4 further includes a plurality of radially-extending ribs 42 connecting together the two rings 40, 41, but providing spaces for the passage of oil from the wiper element 3 to its respective compartment 5a, 5b. The outer ring 41 is somewhat thicker than the inner ring 40 or the ribs 42, so that the outer ring projects axially from the inner ring 40 and ribs 42 to thereby space the inner face of the wiper element 3 from the latter ring and ribs.

Wiper element may be made of any suitable oil-absorbing material, such as porous rubber. It is of annular configuration, formed with a central opening 31 slightly larger than the outer diameter of its respective stem 24, and of an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the outer ring 41 of spacer element 4, so as to be engaged by that spacer element. The engagement of the outer ring 41 with the inner face of the wiper element 3 effectively prevents any oil accumulating within compartments 5a, 5b to leak outwardly through the annular gap 23 of the housing.

In assembling the wiper device, each spacer element 4 is inserted with a friction fit into its respective housing section 2a, 2b, and then each circular wiper element 3 is loosely applied over the hollow stem 24 of its respective section. The two housing sections are then assembled together with a snap fit by passing the jaws 25, 26 of one section into the spaces between the jaws of the other section, until shoulders 25a, 26a of the jaws snap over the annular shoulder 24a formed on the inner face of each of the hollow stems 24.

The parts are so-dimensioned that when the two housing sections 2a, 2b are thus assembled, the confronting faces of the flanges 21 of the two housing sections 2a, 2b are spaced from each other so as to define the annular gap 23 for receiving the dipstick to be wiped by the wiper elements 3 within the housing. Any excess oil not absorbed by the wiper elements 3 is retained within the two compartments 5a, 5b. The engagement of the outer periphery of each wiper element 3 by the outer spacer ring 41 effectively seals the compartment from leaking oil to the atmosphere via the annular gap 23.

It will thus be seen that the oil dipstick wiper device illustrated in the drawings may be constructed of a few simple parts which many be manufactured and assembled in volume and at low cost.

While the invention has been described with respect to one preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention may be made. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.