License plate security frame

• US 5,404,664 A
• Filed: 12/21/1993
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brooks, David H., Denver A. Harris
• Original Assignee: Brooks, David H., Denver A. Harris
• Inventors: Brooks, David H., Harris, Denver A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silbermann, Joanne
• Application Number:
  US08/170,759
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 40/202, 40/209, 40/655, 40/201, 24/590, 24/591, 248/466, 248/475.1
• US Class Current: 40/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/105 Licence- or registration plates, provided with mounting means, e.g. frames, holders, retainers, brackets

Abstract

A license plate security frame for preventing a theft or unauthorized removal of a license plate from a vehicle. The device includes an outer frame which receives the license plate and attaches to the vehicle body with the license plate bolts. An inner frame is pivotally mounted to the outer frame and may be locked to the same by a pair of secretly hidden locking members. The inner frame includes a pair of bolt guards which effectively preclude access to the license plate bolts and conceal the locking members when the inner frame is locked to the outer frame. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include corner lock assemblies for further locking the frames together, and an electric shock assembly connectable to a vehicle alarm or ignition system for energizing a partially insulated and partially exposed wire along the perimeter of the outer frame, whereby contact with the wire by unauthorized persons will result in a shock.

Claims

1. A new license plate security frame for use with a vehicle and a license plate having apertures for receiving bolts, said frame comprising:

an outer frame having a backing plate with a perimeter and a side wall extending generally orthogonally around said perimeter of said backing plate, said backing plate including a plurality of through-extending apertures aligned with said apertures in said license plate;

an inner frame positionable within said outer frame and pivotally connected to said outer frame;

an upper bolt guard having a back side and coupled to said inner frame and positioned to cover at least one of said bolts;

a lower bolt guard coupled to said inner frame and positioned to cover at least one of said bolts;

a pair of locking members rotatably coupled to said back side of said upper bolt guard and engageable to said outer frame to secure said frames in a coplanar relationship, whereby said locking members are hidden from view; and

,

a pair of corner lock means for further securing said frames together.

2. The new license plate security frame of claim 1, wherein said frames each have corners with a right-angle aperture extending through two of said corners, and further wherein said corner lock means comprises a corner locking member pivotally coupled to said outer frame and selectively positionable partially within said right-angle aperture of said inner frame to releasably secure said frames together.

3. The new license plate security frame of claim 2, and further comprising an electric shock means for providing a high voltage, low current shock to an unauthorized user.

4. The new license plate security frame of claim 3, wherein said electric shock means comprises an insulator positioned along said side wall and extending around said outer frame;

and an exposed wire positioned upon said insulator and connectable to an electric shock generating means responsive to a use of said vehicle for energizing said wire when said vehicle is not in use.