Abstract:
An attachment means allows for easy attachment of a decorative item or attachment to a vehicle. The attachment means includes a mounting member comprising a flexible strip, which supports the decorative attachment. A plug is attached to each end of the mounting member. The plug may be easily inserted into and removed from the bottom holes of a license plate on a vehicle. The plugs are attached to the mounting member by extensions, and include slits.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention is directed to a decorative attachment for vehicles; and more particularly to a system for attaching decorative or other items to the license plates of vehicles.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    For many years, people have searched and struggled for ways to decorate their automobiles; particularly for special events such as weddings, Easter and the Christmas holiday season. Wreaths have been tied to front grills, and bows and garlands to antennas and roof racks. These decorations must be carefully attached to prevent damage to vehicle parts. Installation is time consuming, and oftentimes imperfect. The decorations tend to become separated and are lost or destroyed during movement of the vehicle at velocities required on interstate highways.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides an attachment means for quickly and securely associating a decorative item or attachment with a vehicle. The attachment means includes a mounting member comprising a flexible strip, which supports the decorative item or attachment. A plug is attached to each end of the mounting member, and may be easily inserted into and removed from the bottom holes of a license plate on a vehicle. Preferably the plugs are attached to the mounting member by extensions, and include slits.  
           [0006]    A mounting bracket allows the device to be easily attached to automobiles and other road vehicles. The attachment is accomplished quickly and secures a decorative item to the vehicle in a unique and ideal manner. A one piece special mounting bracket simply plugs into the bottom two holes of the back of the license plate, positioning the bow below the licensed plate in order not to obstruct any of the license plate numbers or letters. In addition, the plastic special mounting bracket, also pushes the decoration back against the automobile, usually in front of the back bumper, away from the wind, allowing the bow&#39;s tails to hang below. Once attached, the bow remains securely associated with the vehicle; and will not become separated, damaged or lost during movement of the vehicle at velocities required on interstate highways. Other motorists on the road, seeing this from behind, are amazed at how the bow is so well positioned. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a back pictorial view of a decorative bow according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the mounting bracket;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a front pictorial view of a decorative bow according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown being mounted to the license plate of the vehicle;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a side elevated view of the built-in plug end according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is located on the sides of each end of the mounting bracket;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a back pictorial view of a decorative bow, with a mounting bracket;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a front pictorial view of a decorative bow, showing being mounted to the license plate of the vehicle; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a side elevated view of a plug for a decorative bow. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention.  
         [0015]    Referring to the FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the invention  10  comprising three separate components; the bow  12 , the mounting bracket  14 , and the plastic clip  16 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a back pictorial view of a decorative bow according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the mounting bracket. Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, preferably the bow  12  is made of five-inch wide, three-mil outdoor vinyl, in holiday colors, predominantly red. The classic bow  12  design consists of two loops  18  and two tails  20 . Together, the two loops  18  across measure approximately twelve inches in total, or about the width of a license plate. Each of the two tails  20 , which are cut at angles  22 , measure approximately twelve inches long. In alternate embodiments other structures may be attached to the mounting member, for example, the mounting member may be used to support a cutout silhouette design, or a small stuffed animal. Furthermore, the mounting member may be of a different structure than the bracket shown; for example, a flexible rope or a solid rod.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a front pictorial view of a decorative bow according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown being mounted to the license plate of the vehicle. Referring to FIG. 2, the one-piece mounting bracket  14 , is key to allowing the decorative bow invention  10  to be easily attached, without error, to the vehicle. The mounting bracket  14  is made of flexible, preferably white plastic  24 , curved by design  34 , with two built-in plugs  26  at each end, for insertion into the bottom two holes  28  of the back license plate  30  of the vehicle. The mounting bracket  14  has a center flat bridge  32 , designed to allow the bow  12  to be properly positioned outwardly for display. The curved design  34  of the mounting bracket  14 , also positions the bow  12  below the license plate  30 , allowing clear visibility of the license plate numbers and letters. The flexible plastic  24  and the curved design  34  of the mounting bracket  14 , is also designed to push the bow  12  back and flat against the vehicle, for proper display and protection from the wind. The mounting bracket  14  is attached to the bow  12  by a plastic clip  16 .  
         [0018]    Referring more particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the decorative bow  10  is attached to the vehicle by inserting the two plugs  26  at each end of the mounting bracket  14 , into the bottom two holes  28  of the back license plate  30  of the vehicle.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting bracket  14 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, has built-in plug ends  26 , which preferably cannot be separated from the bracket  14  itself. The built-in plug ends  26  are preferably made of relatively soft plastic  24 , as opposed to the plugs  46  as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a side elevated view of the built-in plug end according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is located on the sides of each end of the mounting bracket. Referring to FIG. 3, the built-in plug ends  26  are also designed with slit grooves  36 , to allow for easy removal by hand, of the mounting bracket  14 , as shown in FIG. 2, from the license plate  30 ; pliers are not required for removal. Preferably, the built-in plug ends  26 , also have a plug end stem  38 , which allows additional space for attachment to the license plate, when the license plate frames are in place.  
         [0021]    While the decorative attachment of the present invention is described with respect to specific embodiments, it should be noted that the present invention may be implemented in different manners and used with different applications.  
         [0022]    For example, the mounting bracket may have a construction, as depicted by FIGS. 4-6. Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the decorative assembly  40  including the mounting bracket  42 . The mounting bracket  42  has a substantially straight design and, as shown in FIG. 5, is twisted 180 degrees  44  and bent in a downward position, before the two end plugs  46  are inserted into the bottom two holes  28  of the license plate  30 .  
         [0023]    Referring again to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the mounting bracket  42  has two plugs  46 , which are separate from the bracket. These two plugs must be assembled to the mounting bracket  42  facing inward. Such assembly of the plugs facilitates twist  44  and bending of the mounting bracket  42  properly downward before insertion of the plugs  46  into the license plate  28  during installation of the bracket  42 .  
         [0024]    Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, the plugs  46  are composed of hard plastic  48 . Removal of the bracket from the license plate is readily accomplished using pliers, or the like. A tight press-fit is achieved by plugs  46 . When pulled out firmly, as shown in FIG. 5, the plugs, the plugs  46  are readily removed without causing bending damage to the corners  50  of the license plate  30 .  
         [0025]    Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.