Vehicle fluid catcher having planar side walls with bendable top portions
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to fluid catchers and, more particularly, to fluid catchers removably detachable beneath automobiles for catching vehicle fluids. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many fluid catchers have been disclosed in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,124 to Niedek discloses a device to be suspended beneath an automobile for absorbing drips and having a disposable element therein. U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,995 to Fay discloses another oil drip guard which can be suspended under an automobile using springs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,088 to Jensen discloses a small, rigid oil drip connector which can be secured to an oil pan using magnets. U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,451 to McCord discloses a flexible and fireproof automobile diaper which can be suspended beneath an automobile using wire. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,024 to Schonwald discloses a vehicle oil drip guard having an absorbent pad in the middle and springs which connect to a rigid circumferential member. U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,884 to Dorries discloses a rigid oil drip guard which can be firmly secured to the bottom of a vehicle using metal brackets. U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,848 to Beskid discloses an oil drip guard having inwardly-extending flanges above a nonflammable absorption pad. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,235 to Weibert, Jr. discloses an oil drip catcher having a shallow, rectangular sheet metal pan 11 and a lining consisting of a thin, flat rectangular pad 12 of matted metal fibers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,626 to Stack discloses an oil drip mat to be placed on the floor of a carport beneath an automobile. U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,754 to Tomak discloses another oil-absorbent floor mat. U.S. Pat. No. 1,630,639 to Taylor discloses a drip sheet positionable beneath a motor vehicle to catch the drippings of oil or grease and to convey the same for deposit at a distant point or into a suitable receptacle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,655 to Savron discloses a drip tray adjustably secured beneath the engine of an automobile and arranged so as to allow cooling air to pass between the engine and the tray. None of these prior art references disclose a vehicle fluid catcher of simple, safe, and economic design with versatile functionality. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The fluid catcher of the present invention can be detachably secured to the underside of an automobile, using springs. Wire can also be used to securely hold the fluid catcher beneath the automobile when excessive weight is placed into the fluid catcher and the springs give way. For example, when a large amount of snow or water is introduced into the fluid catcher, the wires prevent the fluid catcher from dragging on the road surface. The fluid catcher includes raised front and rear walls to prevent introduction of road debris into the fluid catcher. Additionally, two sides of the fluid catcher may be bent by a user to allow the fluid catcher to snugly and securely conform to the underside of the automobile, or all four sides of the fluid catcher may be bent to conceal sharp edges. A nonflammable absorbent pad rests at the bottom of the fluid catcher for absorbing oil, grease, or other fluids, and a screen rests at an intermediate height between the nonflammable absorbent pad and the top of the fluid catcher. The intermediate-height positioning of the screen allows for cooling of fluids and further prevents clotting of fluids on the screen. 
    
    
      BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the fluid catcher of the presently preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a top planar view of the bottom and side walls of the fluid catcher of the presently preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid catcher of the presently preferred embodiment with top portions of the two side walls bent to conform to the underside of an automobile; 
     FIG. 4 shows a top planar view of the fully-assembled fluid catcher of the presently preferred embodiment with the two top portions of the two side walls bent; 
     FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the fluid catcher of the presently preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fluid catcher according to a second preferred embodiment; and 
     FIG. 7 is a top planar view of the fluid catcher according to the second preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically. 
     Turning to FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of the fluid catcher 10 of the presently preferred embodiment is shown. FIG. 2 shows a top planar view of this fluid catcher 10. The fluid catcher 10 preferably comprises aluminum, but may be configured using other materials. The fluid catcher 10 comprises a semirigid planar bottom surface 12 and a planar nonflammable absorbent pad 20. The planar nonflammable absorbent pad 20 preferably has dimensions similar to that of the semirigid planar bottom surface 12 to allow the planar nonflammable absorbent pad 20 to snugly rest on the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. 
     Looking at FIG. 2, a semirigid planar front wall 22 and a semirigid planar rear wall 28 are secured to the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. Two semirigid planar side walls 34 are also secured to the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. 
     The semirigid planar front wall 22, the semirigid planar rear wall 28, the semirigid planar side walls 34, and the semirigid planar bottom surface 12 are all preferably formed from a single sheet of aluminum. These members may, however, be formed separately and secured by welding, for example. 
     The semirigid planar front wall 22 comprises an upper front wall edge 24 and a lower front wall edge 26. The lower front wall edge 26 is connected to the bottom front edge 14 of the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. Similarly, the semirigid planar rear wall 28 comprises an upper rear wall edge 30 and a lower rear wall edge 32, which connects to the bottom rear edge 18 of the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. 
     Each of the semirigid planar side walls 34 comprises an upper side wall edge 36 and a lower side wall edge 38. The lower side wall edge 38 of each semirigid planar side wall 34 connects to a corresponding bottom side edge 16 of the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, the semirigid planar front wall 22 forms a first acute angle A1 with the semirigid planar bottom surface 12, and the semirigid planar rear wall 28 forms a second acute angle A2 with the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. The two acute angles A1 and A2 result in aerodynamic semirigid planar front and rear walls 22 and 28, respectively. In addition to providing low wind resistance, these semirigid front and rear walls 22 and 28, respectively, help rout fluids from the underside of a vehicle to the planar nonflammable absorbent pad 20. The front wall 22 is preferably half the length of the absorbent pad 20. As presently embodied, semirigid planar side walls 34 form perpendicular angles with the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. 
     The vertical semirigid planar side walls 34 of the fluid catcher 10 allow two fluid catchers 10 to be positioned under a wide automobile with corresponding semirigid planar side walls 34 contacting one another. Fluid catchers 10 may also be juxtaposed in alternative configurations. For example, an upper front wall edge 24 of one fluid catcher 10 may abut against either an upper rear wall edge 30 or an upper side wall edge 36 of another fluid catcher 10. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, the size of the fluid catcher 10 has a sufficient length to span the approximate length of the underside of a vehicle from front bumper to rear bumper. The depth of the fluid catcher 10 of the presently preferred embodiment is preferably one to two inches. Other dimensions of fluid catchers 10 may be configured, preferably with lengths from one to four feet and widths ranging between one and three feet. The smaller lengths and widths allow fluid catchers 10 to be juxtaposed side by side, and further allow a small number of fluid catchers 10 to be used on a very large assortment of differently-sized vehicles. 
     A semirigid planar screen 40 is secured to the two semirigid planar side walls 34 between the upper portions 60 and the lower portions 61 of the semirigid planar side walls 34. The semirigid planar screen 40 lies in a plane which is parallel to the semirigid planar bottom surface 12. 
     Similarly, the semirigid planar screen 40 is secured to intermediate portions of the semirigid planar front wall 22 and the semirigid planar rear wall 28. Specifically, looking at FIG. 5, the semirigid planar screen 40 is secured to the first intermediate portion 50 of the semirigid planar front wall 22, to second and third intermediate portions 52, 54 of the two semirigid planar side walls 34, and to a fourth intermediate portion 56 of the semirigid planar rear wall 28. 
     Turning back to FIG. 1, primary securing means are attached to outer sides of the first intermediate portion 50 of the semirigid planar front wall 22, the second and third intermediate portions 52, 54 of the two semirigid planar side walls 34, and the fourth intermediate portion 56 of the semirigid planar rear wall 28. As presently embodied, the primary securing means 58 comprises springs, which are attached to the intermediate portions 50, 52, 54, and 56 using conventional means. The attachment of the springs 58 to the intermediate portions 50, 52, 54, and 56 securely hold the fluid catcher 10 against the underside of the vehicle. In the presently preferred embodiment, the springs are secured at the intermediate portions 50, 52, 54, and 56, instead of the upper front wall edge 24, upper side wall edges 36, and upper rear wall edge 30, to provide versatility in fit and function to the fluid catcher 10, as described below. Alternatively, the springs 58 may be secured elsewhere on the fluid catcher 10, such as the front and rear wall edges 24 and 30. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, the fluid catcher 10 of the presently preferred embodiment is shown with the upper portions 60 bent away from the center of the fluid catcher 10. Since the fluid catcher 10 is preferably made of aluminum, the upper portions 60 may be easily bent in order to allow corresponding semirigid planar side walls 34 to fit around automobile parts beneath the automobile or to fit snugly against the automobile parts. When the upper portions 60 are bent, the height of the fluid catcher 10 may be reduced, and greater clearance between the ground and the fluid catcher 10 may be achieved. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, the semirigid planar screen 40 is surrounded by an upper cavity of air and a lower cavity of air. The upper cavity of air separates the underside of the automobile from the semirigid planar screen 40, and the lower cavity of air separates the semirigid planar screen 40 from the planar nonflammable absorbent pad 20. These two cavities of air may reduce clotting of fluids on the semirigid planar screen 40, and may further provide for cooling of the fluids before they contact the planar nonflammable absorbent pad 20. For example, a screen of the prior art may contact the exhaust pipe, and oil on the screen may travel back on the screen and contact the exhaust pipe, causing a fire hazard. The upper cavity of air of the present invention combats this problem by separating the screen from hot engine parts, for example. 
     The upper portions 60, alternatively, may only be slightly bent, or not bent at all, to provide a larger air space between the automobile and the semirigid planar screen 40. Alternatively, the upper portions 60 may be bent to allow portions of the semirigid planar screen 40 to contact the bottom of the automobile. In the latter case especially, the upper front wall edge 24 of the semirigid planar front wall 22 extends above the upper portions 60 to thereby prevent road debris and snow, for example, from entering the fluid catcher 10. The upper rear wall edge 30 of the semirigid planar rear wall 28 may also extend above the upper portions 60. 
     FIG. 5 shows upper portions 60 of the semirigid planar side walls 34 bent outwardly so that a snug fit is obtained and the upper front wall edge 24 and the upper rear wall edge 30 extend above the bent upper portions 60. 
     FIG. 4 shows a top planar view of the assembled fluid catcher 10. The springs 58 are positioned on all four sides of the fluid catcher 10, and are further positioned at the four corners of the fluid catcher 10. In an alternative embodiment, one or more springs may be attached to the upper front wall edge 24 and the upper rear wall edge 30 for securely holding these edges 24, 30 above the upper portions 60. Secondary securing means 61 may be used to ensure that the fluid catcher 10 does not fall to an unacceptable level beneath the automobile. For example, a large amount of snow, water, or other road debris entering the fluid catcher 10 may weigh the fluid catcher 10 above the capacity of the springs 58. In this situation, the secondary securing means 61 provide extra strength to hold the fluid catcher 10 snugly against the underside of the automobile. 
     A second preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The fluid catcher of these two figures is the same as that disclosed above, with the exception that the upper front wall edge 24, upper rear wall edge 30, and the two upper side wall edges 36 are bent downwardly. This prefabrication conceals the upper front wall edge 24, upper rear wall edge 30, and the two upper side wall edges 36, and thus may prevent injury of a user from the edges. The four corners between the upper front wall edge 24, upper rear wall edge 30, and the two upper side wall edges 36 may be integrally formed or may be added by welding, etc. The bent upper front wall edge 24, upper rear wall edge 30, and two upper side wall edges 36 may also add strength to the fluid catcher and, further, may avoid damage to the underside of the automobile from scratching, for example. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the semirigid planar side walls may extend at an angle other than 90 degrees relative to the bottom of the fluid catcher. Moreover, the primary securing means and/or the secondary securing means may comprise adjustable metal bands such as cable ties, straps, or wire, or any combination thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.