Patent Abstract:
The present invention is a license plate locking device that operates with a cylindrical lock. The license plate locking device has a renewal sticker theft prevention window locking device that is applicable for license plates which display such renewal stickers in any corner of the license plates.

Full Description:
This application is related to co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/052,909, filed Mar. 31, 1998, entitled “License Plate Lock”, the disclosure of which is hereby referred to and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to a locking means for locking license plate attachment bolts and in particular to a license plate attachment means having a locking means for preventing removal of either the license plate or the renewal sticker which may be affixed to the license plate in either of four locations. The locking means includes a cylinder lock with all functioning lock components, i.e., both the lock insertion projection and the insertion projection receiving trench/key way being hidden from observation by any viewer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A description of the related art is discussed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/002,062, filed Dec. 31, 1997, entitled “Theft Proof License Plate Apparatus, which is hereby referred to and incorporated herein, and this same description is applicable herein. Whereas the license plate locking devise disclosed in said co-pending patent application functions very effectively for its intended purpose, the license plate locking device disclosed therein does have the following limitations: 
     a) The lock hasp, although hidden by a protective enclosure is readily apparent and if a criminal was motivated, there is the possibility that the criminal could use some powered cutting means that would cut through both the lock hasp and its protective enclosure. 
     b) the lock hasp and its protective enclosure, while positioned such that they are pleasing to the eye of the viewer or user of the license plate lock, they are somewhat bulky and do not present as clean a look as a more simplified locking mechanism that would accomplish the same theft prevention function. 
     c) The lock hasp design does not allow for an automatic ‘snap’ locking action, such that the operator could lock the device with one quick insertion by hand without having to unlock or open the lock prior to inserting the lock hasp and locking it. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable if there were a license plate locking device that had both the lock insertion projection and the insertion projection receiving trench/key way being hidden from observation by any viewer. 
     Likewise it would be desirable if a renewal sticker theft prevention window locking device would function so as to be applicable for license plates which display such renewal stickers in any corner of the license plates. It would further be desirable if the license plate locking means if the license plate locking device/means uses the existing license plate screws/bolts for attachment. 
     It would further be desirable if the lock mechanism was capable of completing the locking function with one ‘snap’ locking action, such that the operator could lock the device with one quick insertion by hand without having to unlock or open the lock prior to locking it. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention is a locking device having a renewal sticker theft prevention window locking device that is applicable for license plates which display such renewal stickers in any corner of the license plates. The license plate locking means constructed according to the teachings of the invention uses a cylinder lock that has a flat sided cylindrical bar that cooperates with a grove or trench disposed in a second horizontal bar that extends between the license plate attachment screws so as to retain or lock the second horizontal bar by rigidly interfering with any movement of the second horizontal bar. The license plate locking means of the license plate locking device/means does use the existing license plate screws/bolts for attachment. The license plate attachment screw cylinders receive the existing license plate attachment screws and cooperates with a locking device to prevent removal of the license plate attachment screws. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the license plate locking means constructed according to the teachings of the invention illustrating how a grooved rod enters a hollow cylindrical license plate bolt/screw cover and engages with a cylindrical locking mechanism; 
     FIG. 2 is a detail isometric view of the hollow cylindrical license plate bolt/screw cover of FIG. 1, constructed according to the teachings of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a detail isometric view of the cylindrical locking mechanism of FIG. 1, constructed according to the teachings of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a detail view of the working elements of the cylindrical locking mechanism of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 a  is a detail view of another alternate set of the working elements of the cylindrical locking mechanism of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the locking plate locking means of FIG. 1 illustrating the grooved rod passing through the hollow cylindrical license plate bolt cover and being retained in the locked position within the cylindrical locking mechanism of FIG.  1 . FIG. 5 also illustrates how the grooved rod passes through an additional hollow cylindrical license plate bolt cover on the opposite side, which bolt cover is mounted through a sticker tab cover, thereby protecting a license plate sticker tab from theft; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a plate bolt cover that allows the sticker tab cover to be located over any of each of the four corner areas of a license plate where a sticker tab may alternately be located in various States; 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the alternate sticker tab cover and license plate bolt cover of FIG. 6 illustrating the alternate sticker tab cover and license plate bolt cover affixed to and locking a license plate to a car body; 
     FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of the license plate locking means constructed according to the teachings of the invention illustrating the use of the alternate sticker tab cover and license plate bolt cover of FIG. 6 that allows the sticker tab cover to be located over any of each of the four corner areas of a license plate where a sticker tab may alternately be located in various States; 
     FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the license plate locking means constructed according to the teachings of the invention illustrating the use of the alternate sticker tab cover and license plate bolt cover that allows the sticker tab cover to be located over any of each of the four corner areas of a license plate where a sticker tab may alternately be located in various States; and 
     FIG. 10 is an elevational view of an alternate license plate bolt cylindrical locking device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular there is shown an elevational view of the license plate locking means  10  constructed according to the teachings of the invention illustrating how the grooved rod  12  enters the left hollow cylindrical license plate bolt/screw cover  14  and engages with a cylindrical locking mechanism  16 . Grooved rod  12  enters bolt/screw cover  14  at rod opening  22  and enters cylindrical locking mechanism  16  through rod opening  24 . Grooved rod  12  is captured within cylindrical locking mechanism by rotating projection means  26  which will be described later with to reference to FIGS. 4 and 4A. Grooved rod  12  is repeatably slidable through rod openings  32  disposed through right hollow cylindrical license plate bolt/screw cover  34 . When grooved rod  12  has been slid through rod openings  32  disposed through right hollow cylindrical license plate bolt/screw cover  34  and inserted through bolt/screw cover  14  at rod opening  22  and enters cylindrical locking mechanism  16  through rod opening  24  and when grooved rod  12  is then captured within cylindrical locking mechanism by rotating projection means  26 , then license plate bolts  36  (which have been previously attached/screwed to captured nuts  38 ), will be blocked from access through left and right bolt/screw covers  14  and  34  respectfully. In this manner the attached license plate will be protected from theft, vandalism etc. When cylindrical locking mechanism  16  is locked by means of key  18 , then access is denied to anyone other than the owner of the vehicle/possessor of the key. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown a detail isometric view of the left hollow cylindrical license plate bolt/screw cover  14  of FIG. 1, constructed according to the teachings of the invention. Bolt/screw cover  14  includes cylindrical sidewall  42  having rod entry opening  22  and bottom plate  44  having license plate bolt hole  46  disposed there through. Referring now back to FIG. 1, similarly, right hollow cylindrical license plate bolt/screw cover  34  is constructed the same, except there are two rod openings  32  disposed therein. It is to be understood that left and right bolt/screw covers  14  and  34  could be reversed/interchanged and the licensed plate locking mechanism  10  would work equally well. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a detail isometric view of the cylindrical locking mechanism  24  of FIG. 1, constructed according to the teachings of the invention and illustrates how rotating projection means  26  interferes with the passage of grooved rod  12  when it enters through rod opening  24 . Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a detail view of the working elements of the cylindrical locking mechanism of FIG. 3, wherein rotating projection means  26  is biased so as to interfere with the passage of grooved rod  12 , such that when grooved rod  12  is forced past rotating projection means  26 , then rotating projection means  26  is biased into grove  50  as illustrated schematically in FIG. 4A, wherein there is shown in FIG. 4A a schematic detail view of the working elements of the cylindrical locking mechanism of FIG. 3, both when the grooved rod  12  is pushing past rotating projection means  26  (in phantom) and when grooved rod  12  has cleared rotating projection means  26 , and rotating projection means  26  is biased by a biasing means, preferably by a spring so as to rotate counterclockwise as shown at arrow  48  so as to enter grove  50  as is well known in the art. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown a top view of the license plate locking means of FIG. 1 illustrating the grooved rod passing through the left hollow cylindrical license plate bolt covers  14  respectfully, and being retained in the locked position within the cylindrical locking mechanism  16  of FIG.  1 . FIG. 5 also illustrates how the grooved rod passes through additional hollow cylindrical license plate bolt cover  34  on the opposite side, which bolt cover is mounted through a sticker tab cover  52 , thereby protecting a license plate sticker tab from theft. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown an isometric view of an alternate sticker tab cover  62  and license plate bolt cover  64  that allows the sticker tab cover to be located over any of each of the four corner areas of a license plate where a sticker tab may alternately be located in various States. Note that bolt cover  64  includes rod openings  66  such that a grooved rod  68  may be slidably passed therethrough so as to prevent access to license plate bolt opening  70 . Sticker tab cover  62 , (which may for example be made out of Lexan Plexiglas and have dimensions of 2″ high×3″ wide×¼″ thick) and license plate bolt cover  64  are rigidly attached to one another by screws  72 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown an elevational view of the alternate sticker tab cover  62  and license plate bolt cover  64  of FIG. 6 illustrating the alternate sticker tab cover  62  and license plate bolt cover  64  affixed to and locking a license plate to a car body by means of license plate bolt  74  for which access is denied by means of lock rod  76 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown a top elevational view of the license plate locking means constructed according to the teachings of the invention illustrating the use of the alternate sticker tab cover and license plate bolt cover of FIG. 6 that allows the sticker tab cover to be located over any of each of the four corner areas of a license plate where a sticker tab may alternately be located in various States. Referring now to FIG. 9 there is shown a front plan view of the license plate locking means constructed according to the teachings of the invention illustrating the use of the alternate sticker tab cover and license plate bolt cover that allows the sticker tab cover to be located over any of each of the four corner areas of a license plate where a sticker tab may alternately be located in various States. 
     Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown an elevational view of an alternate license plate bolt cylindrical locking device  80  or indeed any bolt/screw cylindrical locking device because locking device  80  can be employed to prevent access to any bolt or screw or indeed any type of fastener. Locking device  80  includes cylinder lock  2 , which is operated by key  1 , and which blocks access to flange  3 , which is inserted into hollow cylindrical bolt cover  4 , all of which mechanism is then inserted through hollow cylinder cover  5 . When a bolt is inserted through flange  3  along centerline  6  at entry  7 , and flange  3  is then inserted into hollow cylindrical bolt cover  4  and cylindrical lock  2  is then locked into hollow cylindrical bolt cover  4  by means of projection  8  being inserted and retained in projection retainer groove  9 , then hollow cylindrical bolt cover  4  will just rotate around flange  3  and never release until cylindrical lock  2  is unlocked by key  1 , thereby preventing access to the secured bolt.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1