Dip stick with sealing sleeve

Claim 2

A dip stick assembly of the type received in an access tube, said assembly comprising: a handle member including an arcuate portion and a straight portion, an elongated fluid-level indicating member attached to said handle member, abutment means on the surface of said straight portion spaced from the end thereof, a sealing sleeve surrounding a portion of said straight portion below said abutment means in mechanical gripping engagement therewith and extending beyond the end thereof, a cap member including a skirt portion surrounding a portion of said sealing sleeve and extending toward the outer end thereof and an inwardly extending flange portion captured between said abutment means and inner end of said sealing sleeve; said sealing sleeve has an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the access tube, thereby establishing close fitting engagement between said sealing sleeve and the access tube to hold the dipstick assembly in place and to at least partially seal the access tube.

Claim 3

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the difference in said outer and inner diameters does not exceed 0.015 inches.

Claim 4

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing sleeve includes an inwardly tapered portion at its outer end.

Claim 5

An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said abutment means comprises an annular rib encircling said straight portion of said handle member.

Claim 6

An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cap member includes a seal for engaging the outer diameter of the access tube.

Claim 7

A dip stick assembly of the type received in an access tube, said assembly comprising: a handle member including a straight portion having an end receivable within the access tube; abutment means extending radially from the exterior surface of said straight portion and spaced from the end thereof; a cap member mounted on said straight portion and in abutting engagement with said abutment means; a sealing sleeve in mechanical gripping engagement with said end of said straight portion for sealingly engaging the inner surface of said access tube over substantially the entire length of said sealing sleeve, said sealing sleeve including a first end engaging said cap member to maintain the same in abutting engagement with said abutment means and a second end terminating a distance beyond said straight portion and including an opening; and fluid-level indicating means attached to said handle member and extending through said sealing sleeve and said opening in said second end thereof; wherein said sealing sleeve has an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the access tube, thereby establishing close fitting engagement between said sealing sleeve and the access tube to hold the dipstick assembly in place and to at least partially seal the access tube.

Claim 8

A dip stick assembly of the type received in an access tube, said assembly comprising: a handle member including a straight portion having an end receivable within the access tube; abutment means extending radially from the exterior surface of said straight portion and spaced from the end thereof; a cap member mounted on said straight portion and in abutting engagement with said abutment means; a sealing sleeve in mechanical gripping engagement with said end of said straight portion for sealingly engaging the inner surface of said access tube over substantially the entire length of said sealing sleeve, said sealing sleeve including a first end engaging said cap member to maintain the same in abutting engagement with said abutment means and a second end terminating a distance beyond said straight portion and including an opening; and fluid-level indicating means attached to said handle member and extending through said sealing sleeve and said opening in said second end thereof; wherein said sealing sleeve has an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the access tube, thereby establishing close fitting engagement between said sealing sleeve and the access tube to hold the dipstick assembly in place and to at least partially seal the access tube.

Claim 9

An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the difference in said outer and inner diameters does not exceed 0.015 inches.

Claim 10

An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sealing sleeve includes an inwardly tapered portion at its outer end.

Claim 11

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said abutment means comprises an annular rib encircling said straight portion of said handle member.

Claim 12

An asssembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cap member includes a seal for engaging the outer diameter of the access tube.