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AssigneeBG Products, Inc.
InventorsMichael Beck, Charles Polston, Sandor Cenziper, Robert Moore, John Thompson
Estimating the term…
A method and sampling system are provided for sampling and marketing fluid replacement services. Once an automobile arrives at the service facility, the automobile service technician quickly obtains fluid samples from the various systems of an automobile. While the consumer provides relevant information relating to the vehicle to a customer service technician, the automobile service technician places the fluid samples into receptacles allowing the consumer to visually inspect the condition of each fluid. The service technician then provides new fluids in proximity to the actual fluids of the engine to allow a side-by-side comparison of the visual condition of the fluids. The samples are then presented to the consumer while the consumer is in contact with the customer service technician to allow the consumer to make a determination as to whether the fluids must be replaced.
A method of marketing engine fluid replacement services, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
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Models for scientific, medical, or mathematical purposes, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes: for chemistry
Models for purposes not provided for in g09b23/00
Educational or demonstration appliances
Term end not estimated
Not applicable.
This invention relates to the field of automobile repair services and, more particularly, to a method and a device for sampling automobile fluids and increasing consumer awareness as to the need for fluid replacement services.
The automobile service industry is a significant component of our domestic economy. Virtually every consumer who owns and drives a vehicle requires the assistance of an automobile service technician to repair their vehicle or to service the vehicle to ensure its long term operation.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bucket and lid of the sampling device of the present invention, taken from above, with the tools removed to illustrate the construction of the lid;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lid and tools of the present invention, taken from above, with the small syringe shown in an exploded manner;
As shown in FIG. 1, a bucket 10 and a lid 12 constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown. With reference to FIG. 2, the tools of the sampling device are shown in conjunction with the lid 12, and include a pair of pumps 14 and 16, a large syringe 18 and a small syringe.20.
The bucket 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is preferably a conventional 5-gallon bucket made of a rigid plastic material. A number of annular ribs 22 are formed about the bucket and a handle 23 is rotatable about either side of the bucket. The lid 12 is frictionally and removably secured onto the bucket. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid is of the tool box type and includes an outer periphery 24 having a skirt 26 overlying the rim of the bucket opening. Within the outer periphery 24, the lid has an inset floor 28 divided into compartments by a pair of parallel ribs 30 and 31 extending from one side of the outer periphery 24 to the other. A third rib 32 extends from another side of the periphery, perpendicularly across the first rib 30 and terminates at the second rib 31. On the side of the lid opposite the intersection of rib 32 and the outer periphery, a ledge 34 is defined that is angled upwardly with respect to the upper surface of the outer periphery 24. An opening 36 is defined in ledge 34 to facilitate removal of the lid from the bucket. Namely, a user may place his or her thumb into the opening 36 and pull the lid from the bucket.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of small apertures 37 are located within floor 28 on opposite sides of the rib 32, and at positions between the rib 30 and the outer periphery 24. Also, a pair of small openings 38 and 40 are located in the floor 28 between the parallel ribs 30 and 31. The openings are preferably circular and have a diameter of approximately three centimeters. A larger circular opening 42 is disposed proximate opening 38, and preferably has a diameter of about four centimeters. Also, pairs of square notches 44 and 45 are located within the first and second ribs on either side of the rib 32. The notches 44 within rib 30 are spaced at the same distance from one another as the notches 45 in rib 31, and the pairs are aligned with one another.