Vehicle license plate cover

• US 4,956,930 A
• Filed: 04/12/1989
• Issued: 09/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent F. Troncoso
• Original Assignee: Vincent F. Troncoso
• Inventors: Troncoso, Vincent F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonifanti, J.
• Application Number:
  US07/336,684
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 40/453, 40/463, 40/492, 40/200, 40/204, 40/209, 40/508, 40/588, 40/591, 362/125, 362/321, 362/325, 362/354, 362/279, 362/290
• US Class Current: 40/209
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/16 Letters, numerals, or other symbols adapted for permanent fixing to a support

Abstract

The license plate cover prevents viewing of the license plate identifying numbers and symbols from the sides of the plate, but does not prevent viewing thereof from directly in line with the plate. The cover includes a frame adapted to overlie the plate and defining a central opening through which the plate numbers can be seen. To the frame are connected a number of spaced vanes which project outwardly thereof and obscure side viewing of the plate numbers. For this purpose, it is preferred to have the vanes parallel with each other and running from the top to the bottom of the frame across the opening, and perpendicular to the main plane of the frame. The vanes can be opaque or transparent. In the latter case, the collective effect of side viewing through the array of vanes is to obscure such viewing. The vanes can be unitary and integral with the frame or pivotally connected thereto for moving between an open position and closed position, the latter overlying the plate identification indicia, to protect the plate under special circumstances. The cover can include a slide bar to move the vanes, retainers to hold the vanes in open and closed positions and one or more spring-biased clips or the like to releasably connect the cover over the license plate. The sides of the vanes can bear symbols and the like for decorative and other purposes.

Claims

1. An improved vehicle license plate assembly, said assembly comprising, in combination:

(a) a vehicle license plate bearing identification indicia on the front face thereof;

(b) a generally flat frame comprising interconnected top, bottom and sides collectively defining a central opening, said frame overlying the outer perimeter of said vehicle license plate, with said opening exposing the identification indicia of said license plate to viewing; and

,

(c) a plurality of spaced vanes connected to said frame and spanning said opening, said vanes projecting outwardly at an angle to said frame so as to obscure viewing of said identification indicia from the sides of said plate.

2. The improved assembly of claim 1 wherein said vanes are generally parallel to each other and are disposed from said top to said bottom of said frame.

3. The improved assembly of claim 2 wherein said vanes are vertical and parallel, and project at a right angle to the main plane of said frame.

4. The improved assembly of claim 1 wherein said vanes are one of opaque and transparent.

5. The improved assembly of claim 4 wherein said vanes bear markings viewable from the sides of said frame.

6. The improved assembly of claim 1 wherein said vanes are pivotally secured to said frame for rotation between an open vane position for viewing said identification indicia only when directly in line therewith, and a closed vane position wherein said vanes are parallel to the main plane of said frame to protect said plate.

7. The improved assembly of claim 6 wherein said vanes are opaque so that said identification indicia are obscured when said vanes are in said closed position.

8. The improved assembly of claim 6 wherein said vanes are transparent but collectively obscure viewing of said identification indicia from the sides of said frame when said vanes are in said open position.

9. The improved assembly of claim 6 wherein said frame includes a bar connected to each of said vanes and adapted to move them between said open and closed positions, and wherein said frame includes means to secure said vanes in said open and closed positions.

10. The improved assembly of claim 1 wherein said vanes and frame are unitary and integral.

11. The improved assembly of claim 1 includes means to releasable secure said frame to said plate.

12. The improved assembly of claim 11 wherein said securing means comprises at least one spring-biased clip.