Retractable Cover for Automobile Service Pit with Oil Change Mechanism, Detent Pin and Method of Use

Abstract

A retractable cover for an automotive service pit allowing an auto technician to utilize a retractable cover and mobile oil drain attachment to successfully collect oil from an automotive oil pan as well as provide repair and replacement of vehicle parts while providing a protective cover over an open automotive pit. Too, the present invention allows for a quick release mechanism, in the form of a detent pin, internal or external to said service pit, which allows an automotive technician to quickly and easily release the present pit cover when in need of a rapid service pit cover release for service person's entrance or egress.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flexible covering device and detent pin securement for an automotive service pit, said pit having a generally rectangular floor opening, wherein said flexible covering for said rectangular floor opening comprises:
 said generally rectangular floor opening exhibiting a length greater than its width;   said rectangular opening exhibiting C-channel rails running coextensive with said rectangular floor opening length and within said rectangular opening's interior sides for engaging a plurality of flexible covering device anchor members along said covering device's length;
 said C-channel having interned upper and lower flanges; 
 said upper flange largely flush with the top of said rectangular opening; 
   said flexible covering device exhibiting a length greater than its width;   said flexible covering device comprising a web net formed of a fabric material and including a plurality of spaced transverse web strips connected to a plurality of spaced longitudinal web strips at right angles;
 said each transverse web strips connected to a plurality of spaced longitudinal web strips each having looped ends; 
   said flexible covering device supported by a pair of transverse support members along said flexible covering device's width at either terminal end of said covering device;
 said pair of transverse support members at either terminal end being fixed into looped longitudinal column ends; 
   said plurality of anchor members having a T-bar anchor wherein a first end is held within selected looped opposite ends of each transverse web strip and a second end that is perpendicular to said first end;
 said second end exteriorly threaded and bolted, capped or otherwise exhibiting a mated, interiorly threaded bolt; 
 said bolt fixable and exhibiting a washer engaged within said C-channel within the interior of said rectangular floor opening;
 said anchor member bolt and washer mounted supporting said transverse web support members and engaged within said C-channels for manual sliding movement within said C-channels along C-channel interior; 
 said bolt and washer adjustable on said anchor members for adjusting the depth of said anchor members' washer in said C-channel rails in relation to said threaded exterior to provide an adjustable depth within C-channel and desired tautness to said selected transverse web strips; 
 said anchor members allowing translocation of said flexible cover to positions between a covered, partially covered and uncovered positions of said floor opening; 
 
 said C-channel rail adapted to receive said transverse support member at flexible covering device terminal ends and at each C-channel rail end which are secured by insertion of detent pins perpendicular to each C-channel flange for secured placement; 
   a means for reversibly securing one end of said cover to at least one end of rectangular floor opening by securing and release of transverse support members via insertion and removal of one to a plurality of detent pins; and
 said detent pins insertable and removable at either terminal end of said C-channel rails for securing and releasing said transverse support members at one or both pit ends. 
   
     
     
         2 . The improved covering device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 one or both transverse support members is releasably held fixed and made mobile by detent pin insertion and removal. 
 
     
     
         3 . The improved covering device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 said at least one transverse support members is received within said loops at one end of said longitudinal web strip wherein one of said transverse support members being fixable releasable via said detent pins and the other of said transverse support members is mounted to a mobile oil drain pan for flexible cover and oil drain pan movement along the length of said opening. 
 
     
     
         4 . The improved covering device as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said mobile oil drain pan attachment comprises:
 a largely rectangular basin with grated top opening and wheel and axel attachments at either terminal basin end; 
 said wheel and axel residing above said rectangular floor opening; and 
 said axel made to exhibit wheels spanning just beyond the width of said generally rectangular floor opening. 
 
     
     
         5 . The improved covering device as set forth in  claim 4  wherein:
 said at least one transverse support member is attached to said mobile oil drain pan via an attachable and detachable e-track anchor and anchor receiver comprising: 
 an e-track anchor receiver attached to said oil drain pan at said either terminal ends; and 
 an e-track anchor and conjoined anchor strap;
 said anchor strap looped around the exposed area of said transverse support member where each strap end is connected to said e-track anchor 
 
 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for covering a generally rectangular floor opening of an automotive service pit of  claim 1  comprising:
 a pair of fixed longitudinal guide rails adjacent to and above said rectangular opening for guiding the inner surfaces of tires of an automotive vehicle over said floor opening for servicing of the vehicle and guiding of said oil pan drain attachment;
 said outer surface of fixed longitudinal guide rails guiding said tires; 
 said inner surface guiding said oil drain attachment affixed wheels; 
 
 a pair of longitudinally extending C-Channel rails within said rectangular opening whose upper flange provides extending cover support guides fixed to said tire guide rails and extending alongside said tire guide rails over said rectangular opening; 
 a plurality of anchor members mounted at selected horizontal intervals to opposed sides of said flexible cover, said anchor members having an extending end thereof mounted on an adjacent support guide for sliding manual movement along the adjacent cover support guide; 
 a means for securing one end of said cover to permit movement of said anchor members and cover between covered, partially covered and uncovered positions of said cover;
 said cover support guides comprising C-shaped channels and said anchor members having extending threaded ends received within said C-shaped channels for sliding movement, and adjustable nuts on said threaded ends to adjust the effective length of said anchor members between said C-shaped channels and said cover; and 
 
 a set of circular wheels made to rotate around an axle which are attached to an oil drain attachment on one end of said wheel axel and to a wheel on the other end of said axle; and 
 said circular wheel made to reside to the exterior of said fixed longitudinal rail to allow for movement of both said cover and said oil drain attachment within and above said rectangular opening, respectively. 
 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  wherein:
 said flexible cover comprising a web net formed of a fabric material and including a plurality of spaced flat transverse web strips secured to a plurality of spaced flat longitudinal web strips, each of said webs having ends with web loops therein; 
 and said anchor members are received within selected web loops of said transverse webs. 
 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  wherein:
 said anchor members are adjustable in length to provide a desired tautness to selected transverse webs. 
 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for covering a generally rectangular floor opening of an automotive services pit comprising:
 a pair of fixed longitudinally extending tire guide rails for extending alongside said rectangular opening for guiding the inner surfaces of tires of an automotive vehicle over the floor opening for servicing of the vehicle;   a pair of longitudinally extending cover support guides fixed to said guide rails and guides extending alongside said guide rails over said rectangular opening;   a rigid longitudinal guide mounted on each tire guide rail along each side of said rectangular opening;   a flexible cover for said opening of a rectangular shape generally similar to the shape of said generally rectangular opening of said pit and having a width less than the width of said opening;
 said cover including a plurality of spaced columns of flexible material and a plurality of spaced transverse rows of flexible material; 
   a plurality of anchor bolts mounted on opposed ends of selected transverse rows of said flexible material;   adjustable means on said bolts connected to said guides for adjustment to provide a desired tautness to said selected rows;   means at one end of said opening for anchoring one end of said cover thereat; and releasable detent pins at the either end of said cover to permit manual securement with insertion and horizontal movement of said cover upon release thereof along said guide rails toward said one end for retracting or removing said cover from said opening.   
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein:
 said selected transverse rows of said flexible material comprise flat webbing material with each row having looped ends; 
 said anchor bolts being received within said looped ends of said selected transverse rows; and 
 detent pins inserted between. 
 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  wherein:
 said anchor bolts are generally T-shaped with a portion thereof fitting within said looped ends. 
 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for covering a generally rectangular floor opening in a foundation of an automotive service pit comprising:
 cable support members for mounting on said foundation in a fixed relation;   a pair of longitudinally extending parallel cable members extending along opposite sides of said rectangular floor opening;   a flexible cover for said rectangular opening comprising a web net formed of flat webbing material, said web net including a plurality of transverse rows of spaced flat transverse webs and a plurality of columns of spaced flat longitudinal webs secured to each other;   anchor members secured to the ends of selected transverse rows and mounted on said cable members for sliding movement; and   means to adjust the length of said anchor members to provide a desired tautness to said selected transverse webs.   
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein:
 a web loop is provided for each end of said transverse rows; and   said anchor members are received within the web loops for said selected transverse rows.   
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein:
 a web loop is provided for each end of said longitudinal columns, and a transverse end rod is received within said loops at each end of said columns, one of said rods being fixed and the other of said rods being mounted on said cable members for sliding movement along said cable members. 
 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as set forth in  claim 11  wherein:
 means are provided to releasably secure the movable rod at an end of said opening. 
 
     
     
         16 . For an automotive service pit having a generally rectangular floor opening; an improved covering device for covering the rectangular floor opening comprising:
 a pair of longitudinally extending cover support members comprising flexible cables for securement along said rectangular opening;   a flexible cover for said rectangular opening of a width less than the width of said rectangular opening and supported on said pair of support members; said cover comprising a web net formed of a fabric material and including a plurality of spaced transverse webs connected to a plurality of spaced longitudinal webs;   a plurality of anchor members having an outer end mounted on said cover support members for sliding movement along said cover support members, said anchor members having inner ends thereof mounted on selected transverse webs for supporting said cover for manual sliding movement along said cover support members;   adjustable means on said anchor members to adjust the length of said anchor members to provide a desired tautness to said selected transverse webs; and   means for removably securing one end of said cover to permit movement of said anchor members and cover between covered and uncovered positions of said floor opening.