Fluid container with level indicator, and fluid level indicator assembly for a fluid container
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsLin Lee, Yan Beaudoin, Steven Thiele, Michael Binfet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid storage container provides a visual display of a fluid level therein. The container has a plurality of capillary tubes attached thereto, correlating to predetermined fluid levels within the container, and which may be visually observed upon inspection of the capillary tubes. Each of the capillary tubes has an inlet at a lower end thereof, and the inlets are located at different vertical levels from one another. When fluid in the container is at a level above an inlet of a given capillary tube, the capillary tube automatically fills with fluid, providing a visual signal of the fluid level.
Claims17
An apparatus for holding a fluid and for visually displaying a fluid level therein,
- said apparatus comprising:
- a hollow tank having an internal cavity therein, the tank having at least one side wall and having a filler neck;
- a cap which fits sealably directly on top of the filler neck;
- and
- a display assembly operatively attached to said tank and comprising a plurality of capillary tubes, each of the tubes extending downwardly from a first region of the tank to a respective predetermined level within the internal cavity of said tank,
- wherein each of said tubes has an open upper end disposed below said cap and a lower end defining an inlet, and wherein the inlets of the different capillary tubes are located at different levels from one another;
- and further wherein each of the capillary tubes is capable of drawing fluid through the inlet thereof, and conducting the fluid upwardly therein to an area thereof proximate said filler neck, when a fluid level within the tank is at or above the level of the tube inlet.
An apparatus for holding a fluid and for displaying a fluid level therein, comprising:
- a hollow tank having an internal cavity therein, the tank having at least one side wall and having a filler neck;
- a cap which fits sealably directly on top of the filler neck;
- and
- a display assembly comprising at least three capillary tubes, each of said capillary tubes including a portion which is integrally formed within said tank side wall, each of the tubes extending downwardly from a first region of the tank to a respective predetermined level within the internal cavity of said tank,
- said display assembly further comprising indicia associated with each of said capillary tubes,
- wherein each of said tubes has an open upper end disposed below said cap and a lower end defining an inlet, and wherein the inlets of the different capillary tubes are located at different levels from one another;
- and further wherein each of the capillary tubes is capable of drawing fluid through the inlet thereof, and conducting the fluid upwardly therein to an area thereof proximate said filler neck, when a fluid level within the tank is at or above the level of the tube inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.