GB2349498A

GB2349498A - Registration plate frame

Info

Publication number: GB2349498A
Application number: GB0005633A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham John Davies
Original assignee: CENTRAL PURCHASING UNIT Ltd
Current assignee: CENTRAL PURCHASING UNIT Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-15
Filing date: 2000-03-10
Publication date: 2000-11-01
Also published as: GB0005633D0; GB9905840D0

Abstract

The vehicle registration plate frame comprises a face plate (1) adapted to surround a visible face of the registration plate. A backing plate is mounted to a rear face of the face plate along two edges. The backing plate is spaced from the face plate by a distance greater than the thickness of the registration plate, so that the registration plate may be inserted between the backing plate and the face plate at an edge of the backing plate which is not joined to the face plate.

Description

REGISTRATION PLATE FRAME The present invention relates to a frame for a vehicle registration plate, which term relates to a plate bearing alphanumeric indicia adapted to define uniquely a vehicle to which the plates are attached, usually front and rear.

Registration plates are well known throughout the world and in each country there is usually a format which is rigidly enforced for the display of the identification indicia. These must have certain dimensions and spacings and must not be obscured.

Such registration plates are objects of interest. They identify the vehicle and are therefore often inspected. It would be advantageous if they could be associated with advertising or promotional material or even decorative material to personalise the vehicle to the owner's taste.

However, such advertisements, slogans or the like may need to be changed. The registration plate of the vehicle must not be changed. Hence, such advertisements, slogans or the like should be separable from the registration plate per se.

It is also important that such slogans and advertisements should not impinge on the visible area of the registration plate.

Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a frame for a vehicle registration plate adapted to surround the registration plate and bear material such as advertisements, slogans, decoration or information, at any desired part of the frame.

According to the present invention, there is provided a frame for a vehicle registration plate comprising a face plate so apertured as to surround a visible face of the registration plate, and means to attach the face plate to the registration plate.

Preferably, a backing plate is mounted to a rear face of the face plate along at least part of two edges thereof and spaced from said rear face by a distance greater than the thickness of the registration plate.

The registration plate may be inserted between the backing plate and the face plate at an edge of the backing plate which is not joined to the frame.

Preferably the face plate is substantially rectangular and the unjoined edge is an end edge.

Once the registration plate has been slid into the pocket formed between the rear face of the face plate and the backing plate, the combination may be fixed to a vehicle by means of screws or other fixing means passing through the registration plate and the backing plate, in conventional positions, to hold both in position.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one registration plate frame embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the frame of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end elevation of the frame of the above Figures.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a front elevation of a registration plate frame. The embodiment shown is one suitable for United Kingdom registration plates and has a central opening approximately 485mm (19 inch) long and 95mm (3.7 inch) high.

This is sufficient to display the indicia of a standard UK registration plate.

The dimensions of the opening may need to be different to satisfy local requirements, in which case, the overall dimensions of the frame will vary accordingly. Any such variations are, of course, within the scope of the present invention.

In the example shown, the frame has an overall height of approximately 150mm (5.9inch) and overall length of 534mm (21 inch).

Hence, as can be seen, the frame has a mean overall width of approximately 30mm and this space can be used to bear advertising material. For example, such advertising material may be adapted to promote the garage which sold the motor vehicle or the manufacturer of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, or additionally, the frame may display some slogan, say of allegiance to a particular football or sporting team or other organisation.

The frame comprises a face plate 1 which may be a plastics moulding with lettering standing proud of the general surface to be printed distinctively. Alternatively, the face plate may be planar and the advertising slogans or the like are simply printed thereon. The face plate 1 may alternatively be of metal which may, if desired, be pressed or stamped to an appropriate shape, optionally with indicia standing proud.

A back plate 2 is spaced from the rear face of the face plate 1 by a distance of approximately 3.2mm (1/8inch). The width of the back plate 2 is approximately 127mm (5inch) and it is attached to the rear of the face plate 1 by means of legs 3 which extend along the-major edges of the back plate 2. Hence, the assembly of face plate 1, backplate 2 and legs 3 form a pocket approximately 127mm wide by 3.2mm deep. The legs 3 need not necessarily extend along the full length of the major edges. In this case, the legs 3 may be discontinuous and form with portions of the back plate a series of clips.

The back plate 2 and legs 3 are preferably formed of plastics or metal material in a U-shape and affixed to the rear of the frame. However, it may be that the backplate and legs are deformed from the frame, with which they are integral.

A standard UK registration plate may be inserted slidably into this pocket ideally from one end, and the indicia thereon aligned within the space surrounded by the frame. The assemblage of registration plate and frame may then be attached to the motor vehicle. The attachment may be by means of screws or other fixings passing through the registration plate and the back plate into positions which are conventional to the motor vehicle. If necessary, the back plate 2 may be provided with extensions to correspond with such conventional fixing positions. Alternatively, the attachment may be by means of adhesive, clips or the like.

As can be seen in the preferred embodiment, the registration plate frame is supported at the same points as is the registration plate itself and both are securely mounted to the vehicle.

The use of the back plate 2 enables the frame to be attached to any registration plate or any vehicle, whatever the fixing arrangement.

In a further embodiment, not shown, the face plate 1 may be attached to the registration plate by other fixing means such as screws, double sided tape, rivets, clips, or other appropriate means. In this case, the fixing of the face plate to the registration plate need not be, and almost certainly is not, coincident with the mounting points of the registration plate to the vehicle.

Hence, the frame may be more readily interchanged, since it will not always be necessary to remove the registration plate in order to add a frame or to exchange one frame for another.

The face plate 1 may be a moulding or pressing of plastics material or metal with lettering standing proud of or inset into the general surface to be printed distinctively. Alternatively, the face plate may be planar and the advertising slogans and the like are simply printed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A frame for a vehicle registration plate comprising a face plate so apertured as to surround a visible face of the registration plate, and means to attach said face plate to the registration plate.
2. A frame as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a backing plate mounted to a rear face of the face plate along at least part of two edges thereof and spaced from said rear face by a distance greater than the thickness of the registration plate.
3. A frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is provided a space between the backing plate and the face plate at an edge of the backing plate which is not joined to the frame, said space being so dimensioned that the registration plate may be inserted therethrough.
4. A frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein the face plate is substantially rectangular and the unjoined edge is an edge along a minor dimension thereof.
5. A frame as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the registration plate, when slid into the pocket formed between the rear face and the face plate, is fixable to a vehicle by means of screws or other fixing means passing through the registration plate and the backing plate, in conventional positions, to hold both in position.
6. A frame for a vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.