IP Library Granted Patent US 7,779,872
Granted Patent B2
US 7,779,872 · App. 11/430,032 · Granted Aug 24, 2010

Service unit for replenishing service fluids

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,779,872
App. No.
11/430,032
Granted
Aug 24, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A service unit for use in replenishing and/or maintaining service fluids in a vehicle has a unit, such as a driving engine, with at least one service element, such as fill nozzles, and a collecting pan that at least partially encompasses the service element. To ensure the convenient replenishment or maintenance of service fluids, a protective drip cover is attached to the collecting pan. The protective drip cover can be shifted from a non-deployed position to a protective position, in which it projects at least partially beyond the collecting pan.

Claims (39)

1. A service unit for replenishing and/or maintaining service fluids in a vehicle with a unit, comprising:

at least one service element,

a collecting pan that at least partially encompasses the service element, and a protective drip cover attached to the collecting pan,

wherein the protective drip cover can be shifted from a non-deployed position to a protective position, in which it projects at least partially beyond the collecting pan,

wherein the protective drip cover is equipped with a mounting section for fastening it to the collecting pan and a folding section, which folding section can be shifted from the non-deployed position to the protective position,

wherein the mounting section comprises a fastening element for mounting the protective drip cover on the collecting pan.

2. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the protective drip cover can be shifted from the non-deployed position to the protective position by an at least partial unfolding.

3. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting section and the folding section are designed to form a single piece.

4. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the protective drip cover is made of a flexible material.

5. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening element comprises at least one rear grip element, which extends through the collecting pan in a through hole.

6. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening element is designed to form a single piece with the protective drip cover.

7. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the protective drip cover comprises a base and side panels.

8. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the folding section is attached to the mounting section via a fold line.

9. The service unit according to claim 7 , wherein each side panel is connected to the base via a fold line wherein when the collecting pan is oriented approximately upright in a vehicle and the protective drip cover is oriented in the protective position, the protective drip cover is configured to channel fluid into the collecting pan.

10. The service unit according to claim 7 , wherein each side panel comprises two panel segments, which are connected to one another via a fold line.

11. The service unit according to claim 7 , wherein each side panel is connected via a fold line to the base and to the mounting section.

12. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting section is designed to conform to the shape of an inner rim of the collecting pan.

13. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting section comprises a base and two side arms extending from it.

14. The service unit according to claim 13 , wherein a base of the folding section is connected to the base of the mounting section and to one side panel each of the folding section with a respective arm of the base of the mounting section.

15. The service unit according to claim 13 , wherein a fastening element is provided for mounting the protective drip cover on the collecting pan, and wherein the fastening element comprises multiple rear grip elements, at least one of which is arranged on the base, and one of which is arranged on each of the arms of the mounting section.

16. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein a removable cap seals the collecting pan.

17. The service unit according to claim 16 , wherein, when the cap is removed, the protective drip cover can be automatically shifted from the nondeployed position to the protective position by unfolding.

18. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the collecting pan can be oriented approximately upright in the vehicle, and wherein the protective drip cover is arranged at a lower rim segment of the collecting pan.

19. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the unit is a driving engine.

20. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one service element is a plurality of fill nozzles.

21. The service unit according claim 7 , wherein the folding section of the protective drip cover includes said base and side panels.

22. The service unit according to claim 1 , wherein when the collecting pan is oriented approximately upright in a vehicle and the protective drip cover is oriented in the protective position, the protective drip cover is configured to channel fluid into the collecting pan.

23. A service unit for replenishing and/or maintaining service fluids in a vehicle with a unit, comprising:

at least one service element,

a collecting pan that at least partially encompasses the service element, and a protective drip cover attached to the collecting pan,

wherein the protective drip cover can be shifted from a non-deployed position to a protective position, in which it projects at least partially beyond the collecting pan,

wherein the protective drip cover is equipped with a mounting section for fastening it to the collecting pan and a folding section, which folding section can be shifted from the non-deployed position to the protective position,

wherein the protective drip cover comprises a base and side panels wherein when the collecting pan is oriented approximately upright in a vehicle and the protective drip cover is oriented in the protective position, the protective drip cover is configured to channel fluid into the collecting pan.

24. A service unit for replenishing and/or maintaining service fluids in a vehicle with a unit, comprising:

at least one service element,

a collecting pan that at least partially encompasses the service element, and a protective drip cover attached to the collecting pan,

wherein the protective drip cover can be shifted from a non-deployed position to a protective position, in which it projects at least partially beyond the collecting pan,

wherein the protective drip cover is equipped with a mounting section for fastening it to the collecting pan and a folding section, which folding section can be shifted from the non-deployed position to the protective position,

wherein the folding section is attached to the mounting section via a fold line.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Jun 16, 2010
From: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 024546/0631 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 16, 2010
From: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
To: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 024546/0651 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 30, 2008
From: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (COMPANY NUMBER 722287)
Reel/Frame 021184/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2006
From: BERTA, CHRISTIAN; GOCHT, HELMUT
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 017863/0552 →