Disposable Oil Filter Sheath for Leak-Safe Removal and Disposal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for removing and disposing of oil filters during engine maintenance often result in oil leakage and spills, posing safety and environmental concerns due to inadequate containment and cleanup challenges.

Innovation Solution

A disposable, resilient, and stretchable containment sheath that rolls onto the oil filter, captures dripping oil, and encases the filter after removal, featuring a cylindrical design with internal channels directing oil into a reservoir and a tieable top for secure closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a reusable removal tool with reservoir is used, then oil containment capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil containment capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable sheath made of flexible plastic material that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for complex reusable tools with reservoirs and cleaning mechanisms, while still providing effective oil containment during filter removal. The sheath is designed to be simple in structure but effective in function, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath is constructed from flexible plastic material that can conform to the oil filter's shape and expand to accommodate oil accumulation. This flexible shell structure provides effective oil containment without requiring the rigid, complex reservoir structures of traditional reusable tools, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If a disposable sheath is used, then ease of manufacture and cost are improved, but oil containment effectiveness may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidoil containment effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible plastic sheath is manufactured using simple extrusion or molding processes, making it easy and economical to produce. The flexibility of the material allows the sheath to expand and conform to the filter, ensuring effective oil containment despite the simple manufacturing process and disposable nature of the product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If the sheath is made of resilient material, then adaptability to different filter sizes is improved, but structural stability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different filter sizesVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The sheath is made from resilient plastic material whose physical properties (elasticity, flexibility) are optimized to provide both adaptability to different filter sizes and sufficient structural stability. The material can stretch to accommodate various filter dimensions while maintaining enough rigidity to contain oil effectively, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively contains and disposes of oil filters and used oil, minimizing cleanup requirements, ensuring personal and environmental safety, and accommodating various filter sizes and shapes.

Implementation Method 1

The oil filter sheath of the present invention is made of a resilient, stretchable material so that the sheath can be in an initial rolled down configuration, and then is partially rolled up on the oil filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The sheath has a body with a closed bottom, a cylindrical sidewall, and an open top. The sheath includes a lower reservoir, with channels in the sidewall to direct leaking or dripping oil to the reservoir

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11772887B2Disposable sheath for oil filter removal and containment

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 SHAFER CAP

AI summary

A disposable oil filter containment sheath is provided for use during oil changes for combustion engines. The sheath has a closed bottom, a cylindrical sidewall, and an open top. The resilient sheath is rolled to an initial collapsed position for placement on the bottom of an oil filter mounted on the engine, and it is partially unrolled along the filter. The filter can then be loosened to allow oil to drain into the sheath for capturing a reservoir. After the filter is removed from the engine, the sheath is completely unrolled and tied at the top so as to fully enclose and contain the oil filter and oil. The sheath and its contents are then ready for disposal.