# US 2014/0190316 A1 · Magnetic oil drain plug apparatus and method of use

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- Number: US 2014/0190316 A1
- Document ID: US20140190316A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/150,911
- Filed: 2014-01-09
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10
- Inventors: Charles Stebbins
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190316A1

## CPC

- B25B 23/12: using magnetic means
- B25B 13/46: of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle
- 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}
- Y10T 29/49817: with other than ancillary treating or assembling
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A magnetic oil drain plug removal apparatus is provided. After the drain plug has been loosened manually, the ratcheting mechanism, such as a wrench, would clamp or magnetically attach to the drain plug; the clamp or magnetic holder would then be rotated by the user to turn the screw via a thumb-actuated ratchet mechanism. Using the ratcheting mechanism, the user would then remove the drain plug from the oil pan without the risk of spilling oil on himself or herself, or dropping the drain plug into the hot oil that has drained out of the oil pan.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An oil drain plug removal tool comprising:
(a) a turntable;
(b) said turntable being shaped to conform to a vehicle oil drain plug;
(c) said turntable being permanently magnetic;
(d) a rod;
(e) a tube;
(f) said rod being disposed axially within said tube;
(g) said turntable being affixed to said tube at its end;
(h) said rod being configured such that axial compression upon said rod urges said turntable to rotate;
(i) a ratchet mechanism;
(j) said ratchet mechanism being affixed to said tube at its opposite end from said turntable; and
(k) said ratchet mechanism being configured to apply axial compression upon said rod when actuated by a user;
whereby said vehicle oil drain plug may be magnetically retained in said turntable while being urged into a closed or open position by the rotation thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The oil drain plug removal tool of claim 1 wherein said rod and said tube are flexible.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method of using the oil drain plug removal tool of claim 1 comprising:
(a) placing a collection vessel beneath the oil drain of a vehicle;
(b) manually loosening said vehicle oil drain plug about one half turn;
(c) engaging said turntable to said vehicle oil drain plug such that said vehicle oil drain plug is magnetically retained in said turntable and such that said turntable will rotate in a loosening direction;
(d) actuating said ratchet mechanism and thereby rotating said turntable until said vehicle oil drain plug is released;
(e) removing said oil drain plug removal tool with said vehicle oil drain plug thereattached from the vicinity of the oil drain of said vehicle;
(f) allowing oil to drain from the oil drain of said vehicle into said collection vessel;
(g) re-engaging said turntable to said vehicle oil drain plug such that said vehicle oil drain plug is magnetically retained in said turntable and such that said turntable will rotate in a tightening direction;
(h) returning said oil drain plug removal tool with said vehicle oil drain plug thereattached to the oil drain of said vehicle;
(i) actuating said ratchet mechanism and thereby rotating said turntable until said vehicle oil drain plug is engaged to the oil drain of said vehicle;
(j) disengaging said turntable from said vehicle oil drain plug; and
(k) manually tightening said vehicle oil drain plug.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein said rod and said tube are flexible.