License plate holder

A license plate holder that removably secures a license plate within the license plate holder that includes a back plate secured to a vehicle bumper of a vehicle, a pair of hinges, a plurality of storage pockets covered with an adhesive plastic covering, a plurality of threaded attachment screws contained in the storage pockets and a front frame coupled to the front frame with the pair of hinges and a snap lock. The license plate holder also includes a plurality of advertisement indicia, a pair of support frame apertures, a first pair of back plate apertures and a second pair of back plate apertures and a pair of support tabs used to support the license plate within the license plate holder.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

Presently many car dealers use a frame-only license plate holder that surrounds a license plate. This frame serves two purposes. Before an automobile is purchased, an advertising card is typically placed within the frame. After the automobile is sold, the customer's license plate is installed within the frame. The frame is free advertising for the dealer. Test drives in the automobile do not use a license plate in the frame as that would require tools and a lot of extra effort. So there are other devices the dealer must purchase to temporarily attach a license plate to the vehicle.

The present invention generally relates to a holder. More specifically, the invention is a license plate holder.

It is an object of the invention to provide a license plate holder that relatively better retains and secures a vehicle license plate than a traditional frame-only license plate holder.

It is an object of the invention to provide a license plate holder that can be opened and closed with one hand.

It is an object of the invention to provide a license plate holder that displays a dealer advertisement when no license plate is installed.

What is really needed is a license plate holder that relatively better retains and secures a vehicle license plate than a traditional frame-only license plate holder that can be opened and closed with one hand and that displays a dealer advertisement when no license plate is installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1Aillustrates an environmental front perspective view of a license plate holder100in a closed position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The license plate holder100illustrated inFIG. 1Aremovably secures a license plate110within the license plate holder100and is in a closed position. The term removably secures is defined as being capable of removing the license plate110once it is secured within the license plate holder100. Additional details regarding the license plate holder are provided in subsequentFIGS. 1B,2A,2B,3A,3B and4.

FIG. 1Billustrates an environmental front perspective view of a license plate holder100in an open position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The license plate holder100and the license plate110illustrated inFIG. 1Bis similar to the license plate holder100and the license plate110illustrated inFIG. 1A.

The license plate holder100includes a plurality of support tabs120and a plurality of license plate apertures130.FIG. 1Billustrates only one of the support tabs120that support the license plate110within the license plate holder100. The support tabs120are used to support the license plate110within the license plate holder100. Additional details regarding the pair of support tabs120are provided in subsequentFIG. 2B.FIG. 1Billustrates only one of the license plate apertures130disposed on a bottom front facing112of the license plate110that can receive a fastener (not shown) to secure the license plate110to the license plate holder100. Additional details regarding the license plate apertures130are provided in subsequentFIG. 2B.

FIG. 2Aillustrates a front perspective view of a license plate holder200in a closed position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The license plate holder200illustrated inFIG. 2Ais similar to the license plate holder100illustrated in previousFIGS. 1A and 1B. However in contrast toFIGS. 1A and 1B, the license plate holder200illustrated inFIG. 2Ais illustrated without a license plate100.

The license plate holder200includes a back plate210, a pair of hinges220, a plurality of storage pockets230, a plurality of attachment screws240, a front frame250, a snap lock260, a plurality of advertisement indicia270and a pair of support frame apertures280.

The back plate210is attached typically to a bumper B of a vehicle V, although the back plate210can be attached anywhere on a vehicle or other suitable object or surface. The back plate210includes a front facing212, a side214and a bottom216and has a generally rectangular planar shape218. The back plate210is made of rigid acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or ABS but can be made of any suitable material. Additional details regarding the back plate210are provided in subsequentFIGS. 2B,3A,3B and4. The pair of hinges220is disposed on a first side211of the front facing212of the back plate210. The pair of hinges220can be a pair of living hinges222that are relatively thin and flexible that allows the back plate210and the front frame250to bend along each of the pair of living hinges222. The pair of living hinges222is relatively inexpensive, easy to manufacture, utilizes relatively little friction and are subjected to much less wear than traditional hinges. The pair of hinges220is made of polypropylene but can be made of any suitable material. The storage pockets230are disposed on a top portion215of the front facing212of the back plate210. There are 4 storage pockets230illustrated inFIG. 2Abut any suitable number of storage pockets230can be disposed on a top portion215of the front facing212of the back plate210. The storage pockets230are covered with an adhesive plastic covering or MYLAR™ covering232to protect what is contained in the storage pockets230. The adhesive plastic covering232also includes a protruding corner234that is easily grasped to remove the adhesive plastic covering232disposed on the storage pockets230. The attachment screws240are contained in the storage pockets230. Typically one attachment screw240is contained in each storage pocket230. The attachment screws240are threaded attachment screws242to facilitate penetration and provide enhanced securing capability. Additional details regarding the attachment screws240are illustrated in subsequentFIG. 2BandFIG. 4.

The front frame250includes an open middle portion252, a first side254, a second side255, a top256and a bottom258. The front frame250is swingably coupled to the back plate210with the pair of hinges220and opens and closes the license plate holder200to allow a user to insert the license plate210into the license plate holder200. The term swingably coupled is defined as being coupled to the back plate210and the front frame250and allowing the back plate210and the front frame250to swing open and close while being coupled with the pair of hinges220. The pair of living hinges222can also snap lock into the front frame250and the back plate210forming the back plate210and the front frame250into a single solid piece. The front frame250is made of rigid acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or ABS but can be made of any suitable material. The snap lock260is disposed on the side214of the back plate210and releasably secures the back plate210and the front frame250together to thereby enclose the license plate holder200. The term releasably secures is defined as securing the back plate210and the front frame250together while also allowing the secured back plate210and the secured front frame250to be released as desired by a user. Additional details regarding the snap lock260are illustrated in subsequentFIG. 3AandFIG. 3B. The advertisement indicia270include a first advertisement indicia272and a second advertisement indicia274. The first advertisement indicia272indicate a location of a vehicle dealer273associated with the license plate holder200. As illustrated inFIG. 2A, the first advertisement indicia272is disposed on the top256of the front frame250but can be disposed on any suitable location of the front frame250that includes the bottom258of the front frame250. The second advertisement indicia274indicate a name of a vehicle dealer275associated with the license plate holder200. As illustrated inFIG. 2A, the second advertisement indicia274is disposed on the bottom258of the front frame250but can be disposed on any suitable location of the front frame250that includes the top256of the front frame250. The pair of support frame apertures280is disposed on each side277of the second advertisement indicia274on the bottom258of the front frame250. The attachment screws240are screwed into each of the pair of support frame apertures280and correspond to the license plate apertures130disposed on a bottom front facing112of the license plate110to secure the license plate110to the license plate holder100illustrated inFIG. 1B.

Using separate components of the license plate holder provides much greater flexibility for marketing colorization and plating. The license plate holder can also utilize one or more than two hinges, or utilize other interlocking features on the frame and the back plate that allow motion of the frame to open the license plate holder. It is preferable to open the license plate holder without decoupling the components of the license plate holder to prevent dropping the frame on the ground or losing it.

The purpose of the license plate holder is to provide an improved device to display advertising and retain an automobile license plate. The license plate holder is fastened to an automobile or vehicle with two of four typical threaded fasteners. These fasten a back plate to an automobile bumper. A front frame is coupled to the back plate in one or more places to allow rotation of the front frame and to open and close the license plate holder, without separation of the components of the license plate holder. The front frame and the back plate incorporate at least one locking feature to hold the license plate holder closed without the need for additional fasteners. The locking feature automatically locks the license plate holder closed when the front frame is pushed fully closed, and can be unlocked with one hand and without the use of any tools to allow the license plate holder to open.

The back plate is visible through an opening in the front frame to display dealer advertising when no license plate is installed and provides viewing area of an installed license plate typical of an existing license plate holder. The license plate holder holds an automobile license plate that is contained within the locked license plate holder to allow test driving of an automobile. Thus, there is no need to use auxiliary fasteners, or a magnetic plate holder to attach the license plate to the automobile. The license plate holder can be opened to take out the license plate. The license plate holder can be used and re-used with a simple one-hand operation without the use of tools. When the automobile is sold, the owner's license plate is placed inside the license plate holder, the front-frame is closed, and at least one threaded fastener extends through the front plate and the license plate and engages either the back plate or the first set of fasteners or the automobile bumper. This mechanically fastens the license plate with similar capability as currently existing license plate frames.

There are a number of advantages to the license plate holder. The license plate holder is fastened to the automobile once without the need to remove it. The license plate holder can be opened to insert an advertising card or a license plate. The license plate holder can replace the need for inserted advertising cards. The license plate holder can be re-used (opened and locked closed). A car dealer no longer needs alternate temporary license plate fastener devices. The license plate holder allows permanent plate mounting and license plate holder closure.

FIG. 2Billustrates a front perspective view of a license plate holder200in an open position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The license plate holder200, the back plate210, the pair of hinges220, the plurality of storage pockets230, the plurality of attachment screws240, the front frame250, the snap lock260, the plurality of advertisement indicia270and the pair of support frame apertures280illustrated inFIG. 2Aare similar to the license plate holder200, the back plate210, the pair of hinges220, the plurality of storage pockets230, the plurality of attachment screws240, the front frame250, the snap lock260, the plurality of advertisement indicia270and the pair of support frame apertures280illustrated inFIG. 2B.

The license plate holder200additionally includes a third advertisement indicia205, a first pair of back plate apertures290, a second pair of back plate apertures292and a pair of support tabs294. The third advertisement indicia205is disposed on and is visible through the open middle portion252of the front frame250when the license plate (FIG. 1A,110) is removed. The third advertisement indicia205can be silk screen printed onto the back plate210or be any other suitable advertisement indicia. The third advertisement indicia205can be a dealer advertising message207or any other suitable advertisement indicia.FIG. 2Billustrates the advertising message207“Buy Me!” but can be any other suitable dealer advertising message. The first pair of back plate apertures290is disposed on a bottom front facing217of the back plate210and corresponds with the pair of support frame apertures280. A first pair of attachment screws246is screwed into the pair of support frame apertures280and the first pair of back plate apertures290to secure the front frame250to the back plate210. The first pair of back plate apertures290is recessed to prevent contact with a screw head244from each of the first pair of attachment screws246. The second pair of back plate apertures292is disposed on each side of the storage pockets230disposed on the top portion215of the front facing212of the back plate210. A second pair of attachment screws248is screwed into the second pair of back plate apertures292and the bumper B of the vehicle V to secure the back plate210to the bumper B of the vehicle V or any other suitable object or surface. The second pair of back plate apertures292is recessed to prevent contact with a screw head245from each of the second pair of attachment screws248. The pair of support tabs294illustrated inFIG. 2Bis similar to the pair of support tabs120illustrated in previousFIG. 1B. As previously described inFIG. 1B, the support tabs294are used to support the license plate (FIG. 1B,110) within the license plate holder200. The support tabs294are also covered by the bottom258of the front frame250when the license plate holder200is in a closed position as illustrated inFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3Aillustrates a side perspective view of a snap lock310and lock tab320of a license plate holder300in an unlocked position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The license plate holder300and the snap lock310illustrated inFIG. 3Aare similar to the license plate holder200and the snap lock260illustrated inFIG. 2A.

The license plate holder300also includes a lock tab320. The lock tab320is triangular-shaped protruding lock tab322that is disposed on the second side255of the front frame250. The triangular-shaped protruding tab322is well-suited to engage the snap lock310in contrast to other different shaped protruding tabs. There is also an open slot324underneath the lock tab320that allows the lock tab320to provide a relatively stronger engagement with the snap lock310, which as previously described is disposed on the side214of the back plate210.

FIG. 3Billustrates a side perspective view of a snap lock310and lock tab320of a license plate holder300in a locked position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The snap lock310, the lock tab320and the license plate holder300illustrated inFIG. 3Ais similar to the snap lock310, the lock tab320and the license plate holder300illustrated inFIG. 3B. The snap lock310is engaged with the lock tab320as the front frame250is closed down on the back plate210. The snap lock310can be pulled away from the back plate210to release engagement with the lock tab320and allow the front frame250to swing open. The snap lock310can be pulled away with a user's one hand to facilitate convenience of opening the license plate holder300.

FIG. 4illustrates a back perspective view of a license plate holder400, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The license plate holder400, the back plate410, the pair of hinges420, the plurality of storage pockets430, the plurality of attachment screws440, the front frame450, the snap lock460, the plurality of advertisement indicia470and the pair of support frame apertures480illustrated inFIG. 4are similar to the license plate holder200, the back plate210, the pair of hinges220, the plurality of storage pockets230, the plurality of attachment screws240, the front frame250, the snap lock260, the plurality of advertisement indicia270and the pair of support frame apertures280illustrated inFIG. 2B.

The license plate holder400illustrated inFIG. 4also includes a raised perimeter405to slightly raise the back plate410of the license plate holder400.FIG. 4also illustrates the second pair of attachment screws248screwed into the second pair of back plate apertures292and the bumper B of the vehicle V to secure the back plate410to the bumper B of the vehicle V or any other suitable object or surface as previously described in theFIG. 2Bdescription.FIG. 4also illustrates the first pair of attachment screws246that are relatively shorter than the second pair of attachment screws248and do not extend into the bumper B of the vehicle V.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.