Dipstick assembly and method of forming the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9625303-B2
Application number	US-201514712954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2015
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

A dipstick assembly includes a handle and a dipstick contacting the handle and being supported thereby, where the handle includes a waist portion including a first material and a head portion including a second material, the first material including a thermoplastic elastomer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dipstick assembly, comprising:
a handle including a waist portion including a first material and a head portion including a second material, the first material including a thermoplastic elastomer;
a dipstick contacting and being supported on the handle.

2. The dipstick assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dipstick contacts the waist portion of the handle.

3. The dipstick assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer of the first material is a blend of one or more elastomers and one or more plastic polymers.

4. The dipstick assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second material includes one or more plastic polymers.

5. The dipstick assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle further includes an overlapping intersection positioned between the head and waist portions, the overlapping portion including both a portion of the first and second materials.

6. The dipstick assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle further includes a stop portion extending integrally and radially out from the waist portion.

7. The dipstick assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle further includes a seal portion extending integrally and radially out from the waist portion.

8. The dipstick assembly of claim 7 , wherein the seal portion includes first and second seal members positioned spaced apart from each other.

9. The dipstick assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dipstick includes one or more reading marks, the waist portion being positioned between the head portion and the one or more reading markers.

10. A dipstick assembly, comprising:
a dipstick including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion spaced apart from the proximal end portion, the distal end portion including one or more reading marks; and
a handle including a first material and contacting the proximal end portion of the dipstick, the first material including a thermoplastic elastomer.

11. The dipstick assembly of claim 10 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer of the first material is a blend of one or more elastomers and one or more plastic polymers.

12. The dipstick assembly of claim 10 , wherein the handle further includes a second material different from the first material.

13. The dipstick assembly of claim 12 , wherein the handle includes a head portion and a waist portion positioned next to the head portion, the waist portion including at least portion of the first material and the head portion including at least a portion of the second material.

14. The dipstick assembly of claim 10 , wherein the handle includes a head portion, a waist portion positioned next to the head portion, and a seal portion extending integrally and radially out from the waist portion.

15. The dipstick assembly of claim 14 , wherein the handle further includes a stop portion extending integrally and radially out from the waist portion, the seal portion being positioned between the stop portion and the distal end portion of the dipstick.

16. A method of forming a dipstick assembly, comprising,
contacting a dipstick with a fluidic first material to form a waist portion via molding, the waist portion as formed contacting the dipstick; and
contacting the waist portion with a fluidic second material to form a head portion via molding, the head portion as formed contacting the waist portion and the first material including a thermoplastic elastomer.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the dipstick is provided to include a hole to receive there-through a portion of the fluidic first material.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising integrally forming via molding a seal portion to extend radially out from the waist portion.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising integrally forming via molding a stop portion to extend radially out from the waist portion, the stop portion being positioned between the head portion and the seal portion.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the head portion and the waist portion are formed with an overlapping intersection.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Reaume Alan Charles

Classifications

• G01F23/04 Primary

  by dip members, e.g. dip-sticks · CPC title

• F01M11/12 Primary

  concerning lubricant level · CPC title

• B29C45/1615

  The materials being injected at different moulding stations · CPC title