Abstract:
A license plate cover has a transparent plastic frame and an elastomeric gasket. The frame includes a periphery and an inner side for disposal adjacent to a license plate. The elastomeric gasket is disposed on the inner side near the periphery of the frame. The gasket includes first and second elongate compression ribs which protrude inwardly from the inner side of the frame to different degrees thereby forming a surface that receives a beveled license plate. The elastomer making up the gasket may be furnished with a colorant such that a colored peripheral band is visible through the frame from the front.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/151,361, filed May 17, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. ______. The disclosure of this application is fully incorporated by reference herein.  
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates in general to a protective covering, and more particularly to a license plate cover for protecting a license plate from rain, slush, salt, debris and other adverse elements found in the highway environment.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    When a vehicle is driven or parked outside, the vehicle license plate is exposed to chemical, abrasive and actinic attack from causes such as water; aqueous solutions of harsh chemicals, notably road salt; organics such as road tar; abrasive particulates, typically silicates; macroscopic debris such as pebbles and insects; ozone; and solar and heat radiation, the former of which includes aging ultraviolet radiation. Optimally, the outside surface of a highway vehicle must withstand combinations of these adverse environmental actors, even as the vehicle is moving through the air at 65 mph or greater. The environment near the highway surface can be particularly unforgiving.  
           [0004]    Government-issued vehicle identification plates may not be as weather-impervious as the rest of the vehicle, and without protection one often sees license plates which have been sand-blasted, etched, mangled and sun-faded on otherwise presentable vehicles. Further, the fasteners that attach the license plate to the vehicle may rust. As a result, the license plate may become difficult to remove.  
           [0005]    License plate covers have been used to protect license plates from these damaging environmental factors. Generally, conventional license plate covers do not have a seal positioned around the rim of the cover to protect the license plate. However, a license plate cover made by Altec includes as a separate component, a circumferential gasket for positioning around the edge of the cover. The Altec license plate cover also includes, as separate pieces, compression-limiting sleeve inserts used in each of the screw holes in order to ensure that the screws do not overcompress the gasket and fracture the frame member. Prior license plate covers also include rubber mounting caps that are used to cover the fasteners that attach the license plate and license plate cover to the vehicle. Prior license plate covers, however, fail to provide an adequate seal that prevents unwanted elements from damaging the license plate or fasteners. As a result, a need exists to provide an improved license plate cover that adequately seals a license plate from various environmental elements.  
           [0006]    License plate covers have also been provided with circumferential bands or borders of color to complement the vehicle basic or trim color. Such a border has been painted on the external side of the license plate cover, where it is subject to gradual removal by abrasion, or has been painted on the interior side where it may be viewed through the transparent cover. While painting a color band on the interior side is an improvement, it still represents a separate manufacturing and material cost increment over covers without such a color band or border or which use no such paint or coating.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    According to one aspect of the invention, a license plate cover is provided to protect a license plate from various environmental elements. An elastomeric gasket is disposed on the inner side near the periphery of the frame of the license plate. The gasket has a first and a second elongate compression rib which protrude inwardly from the inner side of the frame to different degrees. The elongate compression ribs are positioned so that they are adjacent to the (typically bilevel and beveled) license plate when installed on a vehicle, thereby protecting the license plate surface and sealing the mounting screws or other fasteners.  
           [0008]    According to another aspect of the invention, a license plate cover is provided in various colors. The license plate cover frame is transparent and has an inner side with a channel. A colored elastomeric gasket is injection molded into the channel. As a result, a consumer-selectable band of color is perfectly transmitted through the transparent cover visible from the front, but is not easily attacked by the elements itself, and therefore persists in like-new condition. The separate step and material cost of painting a color band on the cover is avoided.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    Further aspects of the invention and their advantages may be discerned from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like characters identify like parts and in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the license plate cover of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view taken substantially along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a partial rear isometric view of the license plate cover illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a sectional detail of the gasket in the frame of the license plate cover illustrated in FIG. 1; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an exploded side view of the license plate cover of FIG. 1 showing installation on a license plate.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    In FIG. 1, the front license plate cover indicated generally at  10  is rectangular and is sized to overlap a vehicle license plate (see FIG. 5). The license plate cover  10  includes a frame  12  with a periphery  14  and a gasket  40  formed from a natural or synthetic elastomer best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 . The gasket  40  is positioned in the inner side  30  of the frame  12  along the periphery  14  of the frame  12 . The frame  12  is transparent and formed from a tough plastic material, such as an acrylic or polycarbonate.  
         [0016]    The frame  12  includes mounting holes  20 , typically four in number, that align with the holes in a conventional license plate and a vehicle license plate mounting bracket. The mounting holes  20  are configured to receive a fastener  64 , such as a bolt, to secure the license plate cover  10  to a vehicle (see FIG. 5). Each mounting hole  20  includes a stepped or double level opening (see FIGS. 2 and 3).  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 2, 3 and  4  illustrate the inner side  30  of the frame  12 . The inner side  30  of the frame  12  includes two channels  32  and  34  located near the periphery  14  of the frame  12 . An elastomer is injection molded into the channels  32  and  34  to form the gasket  40 . As shown in FIG. 3, the gasket  40  also surrounds the mounting holes  20  thereby supplying a peripheral seal to the mounting holes  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the frame  12  and the gasket  40  are formed in the same mold by a two-shot injection molding process.  
         [0018]    The channels  32  and  34  extend around all or a substantial portion of the periphery  14  of the frame  12 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 2, 3 and  4  also illustrate the stepped or double level mounting holes  20  that are positioned in the frame  12 . The first level  22  of the mounting hole  20  has an oblong shape with a varying width that narrows as it approaches the inner side  30  of the frame  12 . The first level  22  and second level  26  meet at step  24 . The step  24  is located at approximately the middle of the depth of the frame  12 . The second level  26  of the mounting hole  20  has a circular shape and is configured to receive the shank or body of a fastener  64 . The second level  26  of mounting hole  24  is defined by an enclosing sidewall  102  of relatively incompressible, hard plastic material which extends from the step  24  to a surface  104  which is substantially coplanar with general interior gasket surface  46   a  (described below). The enclosing sidewall  102  acts as a compression delimiter; the mounting screws will be able to compress only upstanding gasket ribs  46   b ,  48   b , but not the remainder of the gasket body. Enclosing sidewalls  102  prevent the fasteners from overcompressing the gasket and fracturing the frame of the license plate cover.  
         [0020]    After the fastener  64  (See FIG. 5) is installed, mounting hole  20  is filled with the fastener head and a rubber mounting cap. The mounting cap (not shown) surrounds and seals the fastener so as to protect it from environmental attack. The shape of the openings of each level of the mounting holes may also vary; for example, the first level opening could also be circular.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a detail of a preferred form of a gasket  40  that is installed in the license plate cover of the present invention. The gasket  40  is formed from an elastomer, such as saniprene, or another organic rubber with an ultraviolet inhibitor. A suitable elastomer is Multi-Flex® TEA from Multibase. When the gasket is injection molded into the channels  32  and  34  of the transparent license plate cover frame, the front of the license plate cover displays the color of the gasket, which can be chosen to be clear or a transparent color. As the gasket is injection molded into the frame, the liquid elastomer adheres to or “wets” the surface of the channels and the frame such that a complete molecular interface is formed between the gasket and the frame. Thus, the gasket completely contacts the inner surface of the channels and the frame. Since there are no air gaps, there will be no refraction or light scattering at the gasket/cover interface, and there will be virtually complete light transmission through the frame member from the gasket surface. As a result, the license plate cover as viewed from the outside has a consistently colored border of undiminished hue.  
         [0022]    The gasket  40  may be colored by a variety of colors, including clear or transparent, so that the user may select a license plate cover that matches (or pleasingly contrasts with) the color of his or her vehicle. Preferably, the mounting caps are also colored to match the color of the gasket  40 . Because the colored piece is disposed behind the tough, transparent frame  12 , it will not be worn or abraded, will be less subject to chemical attack and therefore will retain its initial brightness longer. The gasket  40  thus provides a colored band without the additional step of applying paint to either the inside or the outside of frame member  12 .  
         [0023]    The gasket  40  includes a license plate receiving surface  42  and an opposed frame mounting or retaining surface  44 . The receiving surface  42  includes a first section  46  and a second section  48 . The first section  46  and the second section  48  are separated by a step  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the step  50  is approximately 0.05 inches to 0.10 inches high. As a result, the second section  48  is positioned in a plane above that of the first section  46  as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In use, the step  50  is disposed adjacent to a license plate when the license plate cover is installed over the license plate on a vehicle (See FIG. 5).  
         [0024]    Each receiving surface section  46  and  48  includes a substantially flat surface section  46   a  and  48   a , respectively. Each flat surface section  46   a  and  48   a  also includes an elongated upstanding compression rib  46   b  or  48   b . The compression ribs  46   b  and  48   b  protrude inwardly from the rear of the frame to intentionally different heights so that the compression ribs  46   b  and  48   b  are disposed to be adjacent respectively to a raised central area  66  and a depressed peripheral area  68  of a license plate (FIG. 5). The inwardmost surface of compression rib  48   b  is oriented in a plane inward relative to an inwardmost surface of compression rib  46   b . Compression rib  46   b  is centered over the channel  32  except for the area under the mounting holes. At each mounting hole, the compression rib  46   b  extends from its location above channel  32  laterally inwardly around the outer periphery of the mounting hole. At the opposite side of the mounting hole, the compression rib  46   b  resumes its position over the channel  32 . The compression rib  48   b  is centered over the channel  34 . As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the routing of inner compression rib  46   b  to the interior of the mounting holes provides a further anticorrosion barrier for the fasteners.  
         [0025]    As best seen in FIG. 3, the peripheral compression ribs  46   b ,  48   b  seal most of the periphery of the frame, but not all of it. A gap  16  and drain channels  36   a  and  36   b  are intentionally left open on the bottom center of the cover. This is to permit air pressure equalization when the vehicle changes altitude, and provides a gravity drain for any moisture which may have found its way under the cover  10 .  
         [0026]    The receiving surface  42  of the gasket  40  also includes a raised rim  52  which forms the outer edge  54  of the gasket  40 . The raised rim  52  is in a plane inward that of the compression ribs  46   b  and  48   b . The raised rim is located around the periphery of the gasket  40 . Thus, the raised rim  52  fits over and around an outer edge of the license plate when installed over the license plate of a vehicle.  
         [0027]    The compression ribs  46   b  and  48   b  have a triangular or inverted V-shape. The sections of the compression ribs  46   b  and  48   b , however, could be formed from other shapes, such as a circle or an ellipse. In addition to the raised rim  52 , the compression ribs  46   b  and  48   b  provide a barrier to the environmental elements, including rain and slush.  
         [0028]    The mounting surface  44  of the gasket  40  closely (and preferably, exactly) conforms to the shape of the channels  32  and  34  and the inner side  30  of the frame  12 . In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished automatically by using a two-step injection molding process, in which the channels  32  and  34  are formed in a first step and are filled with a fluid elastomer in a second step. Thus, the mounting surface  44  surrounds the mounting holes  20  and fills the channels  32  and  34  in the frame  12 . The mounting surface  44  also includes rectangular sections  56   a  and  58   a  positioned above and connected to the portions  56   b  and  58   b  that fill the channels  32  and  34 . The first rectangular section  56   a  is adjacent to the first receiving section  46  and the second rectangular section  58   a  is adjacent to the second receiving section  48 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second rectangular section  58   a  is approximately 0.05 to 0.10 inches higher than the first rectangular section  56   a.    
         [0029]    Filling double channels  32  and  34  with injection molded elastomer militates against the delamination of the gasket  40  from the plastic frame member  12 . The channels  32  and  34  provide a greater surface area for frictional gripping of the gasket  40  onto the frame member  12 , and also provide physical obstructions to lateral dislocation of the gasket  40  relative to the frame  12 . In less preferred embodiments, however, the complex retaining surface  40  and channels  32 ,  34  could be replaced with a single-channel construction or even flat frame and gasket surfaces which could be bonded together by, e.g., an adhesive. As mentioned above, the gasket  40  should “wet” the inner surface  30  of frame  12  for optimum light transmission.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 illustrates the license plate cover  10  relative to a license plate  60  and vehicle frame mounting bracket portions  100 . The border  62  of the license plate contacts the compression ribs  46   b  and  48   b . Conventional license plates are stamped or embossed to leave a raised central area  66  and a relatively depressed peripheral area  68 , with a bevel or step  70  in between. The letters and numbers  72  of the vehicle license plate and other indicia are stamped into raised central area  66 . The different elevations of ribs  46   b  and  48   b  allow them to respectively mate with the raised central area  66  and the depressed peripheral area  68 . This improves the seal and prevents buckling or warping of the license plate by the cover  10 . The stepped compression ribs  46   b  and  48   b  and the raised rim  52  of the gasket  40  provide a seal that protects the license plate and the fasteners that attach the license plate from damaging environmental elements.  
         [0031]    In summary, a vehicle license plate cover has been described and illustrated which provides for a sealing engagement to a beveled license plate and a peripheral band of color that is protected from the elements. However, while the invention has been described with respect to the illustrated embodiment, it is not limited thereto, but only by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.