SECURITY LICENSE PLATE FOR VEHICLES

• US 3,805,231 A
• Filed: 08/26/1971
• Issued: 04/16/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael Santoli
• Original Assignee: Michael Santoli
• Inventors: Santoli, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/175,344
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 340/63,64 116/33 180/114 307/1AT 335/205 40/201
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices

Abstract

A security license plate for use with vehicles has a plate-like body of a predetermined configuration. The body includes a main section and a fragmentary section which together define the predetermined configuration for the body. The main section is arranged for mounting on the vehicle and the fragmentary section is detachable from the main section such that the configuration of the body is recognizably changed to visually indicate an unauthorized use of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle is of the type having an ignition system, and a switching means is operably connected in the ignition system including an actuating assembly mounted on the fragmentary section to disenable energization of the ignition system upon removal of the fragmentary section from the main section.

Claims

1. A security license plate for vehicles of the type including an ignition system and having an ignition switch for energizing said ignition system, said license plate comprising, a generally flat, plate-like body having a first predetermined configuration defined by a peripheral edge, said body including a main body section having a second predetermined configuration and arranged for mounting on said vehicle, said main body section including an opening therein, said body including a fragmentary body section having a third configuration conforming to the configuration of said opening in said main body section to enable said fragmentary body section to be inserted into and removed from said opening, said fragmentary body section being mounted on said main body section within said opening to define said first predetermined configuration, said fragmentary body section being selectively detachable from said main body section for removal from within said opening to leave only said main body section and recognizably changing said predetermined configuration by visually displaying said second predetermined configuration, switching means mounted on said body for connection in said ignition system to control energization thereof, said switching means including an actuating assembly mounted for removal with said fragmentary body section to disenable energization of said ignition system, said switching means including a switching assembly mounted on said main body section for actuation by said actuating assembly to enable energization of said ignition system when said fragmentary body section is in the mounted position, said actuating assembly includes a magnet member having a magnetic field, said switching assembly being arranged for actuation by a magnetic field, said switching assembly being disposed in the magnetic field of said magnetic member in the mounted position of said fragmentary body section so as to cause actuation of said switching assembly and enabling energization of said ignition system in the installed position of said fragmentary bOdy section and to disenable energization of said ignition system and visually indicate an unauthorized use of said vehicle in the non-installed position of said fragmentary body section.

2. A security license plate in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body has an identifiable pattern thereon, and said main body section and said fragmentary body section each include a portion of said pattern such that removal of said fragmentary body section from said main body section recognizably changes said pattern to further visually indicate an unauthorized use of said vehicle.

3. A security license plate in accordance with claim 1, including signal means operably connected to said switching means and arranged for operable connection in said ignition system, and said switching assembly bening arranged to actuate said signal means when said fragmentary body section is removed from said main body section and the ignition switch of said ignition system is closed.

4. A security license in accordance with claim 3, wherein said signal means includes an audio-signal producing device.

5. A security license in accordance with claim 1, wherein said main body section includes a peripheral edge, said opening is defined by a slot extending inwardly from one side of said peripheral edge.

6. A security license in accordance with claim 5, wherein said main body section is generally rectangular in configuration including a top edge, said slot is of a generally rectangular configuration and extends inwardly from said top edge being defined by generally parallel, marginal side edges and an inner marginal edge spaced inwardly from the top edge of said main body section, said fragmentary body section is defined by generally parallel side edges engageable with the marginal side edges of said slot, said fragmentary body section is further defined by a bottom edge engageable with said inner marginal edge and a top edge which is aligned with said top edge of said main body section in the inserted position of said fragmentary body section.

7. A security license in accordance with claim 6, wherein said body includes a front surface and a rear surface, said main body section includes opposed flanges extending along said marginal side edges adjacent one of said surfaces, said fragmentary body section including oppositely disposed flanges adjacent the other of said surfaces extending along its side edges defining outwardly projecting to the flanges complementary-shaped flanges adjacent said marginal side edges of said slot for abutting engagement therewith, parallel spring means on said main body section engageable with said fragmentary body section for maintaining said flanges in abutting engagement with one another.