Patent ID: 6385876
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: B60R,G09F,Y10T

Abstract:
A vehicular license plate holder comprising, in combination:a frame including a rear face with a substantially planar rectangular configuration defined by a front surface, a rear surface, and a periphery formed therebetween defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges, the frame further including a side wall integrally formed on the periphery of the rear face and extending forwardly therefrom for defining a bottom face and a pair of side faces forming an interior space and an open top, the frame further including an inwardly extending lip integrally formed on an outboard peripheral edge of the side wall and extending inwardly therefrom with an inboard peripheral edge defined by a linear bottom edge, a pair of linear side edges, and a top edge with a linear central extent and a pair of side extents each having a rectangular frame portion and a circular bore portion with a predetermined diameter, wherein the rear face of the frame has a pair of holes formed therein adjacent to the top edge of the rear face and in alignment with the bore portions of the inwardly extending lip of the frame; a pair of divider strips each having a substantially planar rectangular configuration, each of the divider strips integrally formed on an inner surface of one of the side faces of the side wall with an inboard edge being coextensive with one of the side edges of the inwardly extending lip of the frame for defining a rear compartment adapted for removably receiving a license plate therein and a front compartment; a transparent plate with a substantially planar rectangular configuration having a shape and a size similar to that of the rear face of the frame for being removably received within the front compartment of the frame; a lid having a substantially planar rectangular configuration with a size and shape similar to that of the bottom face of the side wall of the frame, an elongated side edge of the lid being pivotally coupled to the top edge of the rear face of the frame for allowing selective access to the interior space of the frame; and a pair of locking screws each including a threaded substantially conical inboard extent and a substantially cylindrical outboard extent integrally coupled to the inboard extent in coaxial relationship therewith, the outboard extent having a pair of linear slots formed in diametrically opposed sides thereof, a pair of substantially planar triangular locking tabs slidably mounted within the slots of the outboard extent and movable within a plane including an axis of the outboard extent between a retracted orientation such that the outboard extent has an overall width of less than the predetermined diameter and an extended orientation such that the outboard extent has an overall width greater than the predetermined diameter, and a key hole situated on an end of the outboard extent for allowing the transfer of the locking tabs between the retracted orientation and the extended orientation, wherein the inboard extents of the locking screws are adapted to be extended through the bores portions and holes of the frame and engaged with a vehicle such that the locking tabs may be selectively extended to prevent the removal of the locking screws from the frame.