IP Library Granted Patent US 11,305,638
Granted Patent B2
US 11,305,638 · App. 16/620,045 · Granted Apr 19, 2022

Reservoir with level indicator

Inventor: Richard Allan (Holland Landing, CA)
Assignee: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
B60K11/02F01P11/029F01P11/18G01F23/58B60Y2400/3019F01P2025/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,305,638
App. No.
16/620,045
Granted
Apr 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is fluid reservoir comprising a body having an inlet, an outlet, a fill aperture, and a fluid level indicator assembly. The fluid level indicator assembly is configured such at least an upper portion thereof extends external and above the body of the coolant reservoir. The fluid level indicator assembly includes a housing having a lower portion which extends into an interior volume of the body, and an upper portion, which is the portion that extends external and above the body.

Claims (36)

1. A fluid reservoir comprising:

a body having an inlet, an outlet, a fill aperture, and a fluid level indicator assembly,

wherein at least an upper portion of the fluid level indicator assembly extends external and above the body of the fluid reservoir, and

wherein the fluid level indicator assembly includes a housing having a lower portion which extends into an interior volume of the body, and an upper portion, which is the portion that extends external and above the body, and

wherein the fluid level indicator assembly includes a float assembly positioned within the housing, and is dimensioned to permit for free displacement upward and downward therein, and

wherein the body includes a clearance pocket aligned to the housing, to provide for a greater range of displacement of the float assembly.

2. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is sealed at a distal end of the upper portion, and is open at a distal end of the lower portion, such that the housing delimits an interior space that is in fluid communication with the interior volume of the body.

3. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the float assembly includes a float body and a buoyant member attached to a lower portion of the float body, the buoyant member enabling the displacement of the float assembly relative to fluid within the fluid reservoir.

4. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the housing that extends external and above the body provides a fluid max/min level indicator, and a top region of the float body is dimensioned and calibrated to align with the fluid max/min level indicator provided on the housing to serve as an indicator of fluid level within the fluid reservoir.

5. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is integrally formed as part of an upper body section of the body, and wherein the lower portion of the housing extends into an area of the interior volume defined by a lower body section of the body.

6. A fluid reservoir comprising:

a body having an inlet, an outlet, a fill aperture, and a fluid level indicator assembly,

wherein at least an upper portion of the fluid level indicator assembly extends external and above the body of the fluid reservoir, and

wherein the fluid level indicator assembly includes a housing having a lower portion which extends into an interior volume of the body, and an upper portion, which is the portion that extends external and above the body, and

wherein the fluid level indicator assembly includes a float assembly positioned within the housing, and is dimensioned to permit for free displacement upward and downward therein, and

wherein a plurality of lobes are provided on an inside surface of the housing, to prevent the float assembly from binding within the housing.

7. The fluid reservoir according to claim 3 , wherein the float body includes three body segments provided in trigonal arrangement.

8. The fluid reservoir according to claim 3 , wherein the buoyant member is constructed of foam, or as a hollow thermoplastic structure.

9. The fluid reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir is an automotive coolant reservoir.

10. The fluid reservoir according to claim 6 , wherein the housing is sealed at a distal end of the upper portion, and is open at a distal end of the lower portion, such that the housing delimits an interior space that is in fluid communication with the interior volume of the body.

11. The fluid reservoir according to claim 6 , wherein the float assembly includes a float body and a buoyant member attached to a lower portion of the float body, the buoyant member enabling the displacement of the float assembly relative to fluid within the fluid reservoir.

12. The fluid reservoir according to claim 11 , wherein the buoyant member is constructed of foam, or as a hollow thermoplastic structure.

13. The fluid reservoir according to claim 6 , wherein the upper portion of the housing that extends external and above the body provides a fluid max/min level indicator, and a top region of the float body is dimensioned and calibrated to align with the fluid max/min level indicator provided on the housing to serve as an indicator of fluid level within the fluid reservoir.

14. The fluid reservoir according to claim 6 , wherein the housing is integrally formed as part of an upper body section of the body, and wherein the lower portion of the housing extends into an area of the interior volume defined by a lower body section of the body.

15. The fluid reservoir according to claim 6 , wherein the fluid reservoir is an automotive coolant reservoir.

16. A fluid reservoir comprising:

a body having an inlet, an outlet, a fill aperture, and a fluid level indicator assembly,

wherein at least an upper portion of the fluid level indicator assembly extends external and above the body of the fluid reservoir, and

wherein the fluid level indicator assembly includes a housing having a lower portion which extends into an interior volume of the body, and an upper portion, which is the portion that extends external and above the body, and

wherein the fluid level indicator assembly includes a float assembly positioned within the housing, and is dimensioned to permit for free displacement upward and downward therein, and

wherein the float assembly includes a float body and a buoyant member attached to a lower portion of the float body, the buoyant member enabling the displacement of the float assembly relative to fluid within the fluid reservoir, and

wherein the float body includes three body segments provided in trigonal arrangement.

17. The fluid reservoir according to claim 16 , wherein the housing is sealed at a distal end of the upper portion, and is open at a distal end of the lower portion, such that the housing delimits an interior space that is in fluid communication with the interior volume of the body.

18. The fluid reservoir according to claim 16 , wherein the buoyant member is constructed of foam, or as a hollow thermoplastic structure.

19. The fluid reservoir according to claim 16 , wherein the upper portion of the housing that extends external and above the body provides a fluid max/min level indicator, and a top region of the float body is dimensioned and calibrated to align with the fluid max/min level indicator provided on the housing to serve as an indicator of fluid level within the fluid reservoir.

20. The fluid reservoir according to claim 16 , wherein the housing is integrally formed as part of an upper body section of the body, and wherein the lower portion of the housing extends into an area of the interior volume defined by a lower body section of the body.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2025
From: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073057/0444 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS Recorded Aug 26, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 072801/0830 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS, RECORDED ON APRIL 23, 2025, AT REEL/FRAME NO. 070953/0354 Recorded Aug 26, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 072552/0829 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
To: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC. (AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ABC GROUP INC.)
Reel/Frame 070949/0942 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS Recorded Apr 23, 2025
From: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 070953/0354 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 8, 2022
From: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062094/0661 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2020
From: ALLAN, RICHARD
To: ABC GROUP INC.
Reel/Frame 053678/0670 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 2, 2020
From: ABC GROUP INC.
To: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 053678/0673 →