Abstract:
The present invention provides a frame for attaching a license plate or novelty plate to a vehicle, with the capability of attaching an emblem to the frame in a desired location chosen by the user from multiple possible points of attachment. Multiple receptacles may be formed in the frame, each suitable for receiving and tightly holding an protuberance extending from an emblem, so that the emblem may be attached to the frame wherever there is a receptacle. Alternatively, a separate clip may be placed behind the frame, with prongs extending forward around the frame to attach to an emblem in any position on the frame where the clip is located. The position of the emblem on the frame may be shifted up and down or side to side. The emblem may also be removed and repositioned in a new position selected by the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a specialized frame which can connect a plate, such as a license plate, to a vehicle, while supporting one or more emblems which may be attached to the frame in multiple possible locations. In this manner, the user of the frame may easily position the emblem, choosing from multiple possible options for aesthetic preference or to meet legal requirements for the display of the license plate. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     All fifty United States and many countries and provinces worldwide require government-issued license plates to be attached to the rear of motor vehicles operating within their borders. In addition, some states and countries require a license plate to be attached to the front of the vehicle as well. Because of these requirements, motor vehicle manufacturers typically provide a standard method and space for attaching such license plates to the vehicles. In jurisdictions where license plates are not required in the front, car owners often choose to attach a decorative plate, sometimes called a vanity plate or novelty plate, to the front of the vehicle in the space provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle for a license plate. 
     Vehicle owners often choose to decorate around the license plate or novelty plate with a stylized frame that surrounds the plate and adds aesthetic appeal. Such frames are typically rectangular in shape, with the frame surrounding an open area through which the plate can be viewed. The frame is frequently attached to the vehicle with screws or other connecting mechanisms which hold the license plate on the vehicle. License plate frames are available in a wide variety of designs. By way of example, U.S. Design Pat. D602,831 and D602,832 describe particular designs for license plate frames. A license plate frame sold by ChromaGraphics allows the user to select a two-dimensional ornament and place that ornament in one of several pre-determined locations on the frame with a permanent adhesive. Because of the nature of the adhesive mechanism, the ornament does not have the flexibility of extending beyond the license plate frame, and cannot be easily removed and re-positioned after it is initially stuck to the frame. 
     U.S. Design Pat. D593,917 describes a stylized frame with decorations related to the game of golf. The golf Design Patent &#39;917 is an example of a frame which includes a three-dimensional emblem attached to a border of the frame, which emblem extends beyond the borders of the rectangular base frame. While frames with three-dimensional emblems have an aesthetic appeal, the emblems may present problems if a portion of the emblem extends beyond the space allowed on the vehicle for a license plate, possibly resulting in the emblem encountering a vehicle component, such as a part of a bumper, tail light, or body flair. Such stylized frames which fit some vehicles may not fit others, making it desirable that the frame itself have flexible components to fit various spaces. 
     Many government entities require that particular information on the license plate, such as the identity of the state issuing the plate, the number associated with that particular vehicle, or the tags that are often provided as proof of current registration, be viewable without being obscured by a frame. Depending on the particular license plate and regulations of the applicable government entity, the identifiers that cannot be obscured are in different places on different license plates. For frames with emblems that extend into or over portions of the license plate, problems may occur when the emblem obscures a portion of a license plate which is legally required to be visible. As a result, some license plate frames are acceptable for some vehicles and not for others, or meet legal requirements in some jurisdictions and not in others. 
     It is desirable to have a frame suitable for attaching a license plate to a vehicle, which frame can be customized by placing a two or three dimensional decoration or emblem on the frame in one of multiple possible positions. In this manner, the owner of the vehicle can select a position for the emblem which is aesthetically pleasing, permits the plate to be viewed without obscuring important information on the plate, and fits into the allowed space on the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a method of decorating a license plate frame for holding a plate on a vehicle which method allows a user to place an emblem or ornamental feature on the frame in a location chosen by the user from multiple possible places of attachment on the frame. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame for attaching a plate to a vehicle which frame can be easily customized by the user to support a two or three dimensional emblem chosen by the user in a location and orientation which is aesthetically pleasing to that user. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a frame which can be customized by the user to support an emblem in a location that does not obscure information presented on the plate held in place on the vehicle by the frame. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a frame on which a user can select a location for an emblem to avoid interference with adjacent components of the vehicle. 
     These objects are achieved by a device consisting of a frame, a connection means for connecting the frame to a vehicle so as to hold a license plate or novelty plate between the frame and the vehicle, one or more specialized emblems, and an attachment mechanism for connecting an emblem to the frame in a manner which allows the user to choose the location for the emblem. The attachment mechanism provides flexibility for positioning the emblem and allows the emblem to be removed from the frame and attached in a different position. Numerous attachment mechanisms are possible. For example, the attachment mechanism may consist of multiple receptacles located in various positions on the frame for receiving a protuberance extending from the emblem, multiple protuberances on the frame to be received by receptacles on an emblem, or a separate clip positioned on or around the frame suitable for releasably attaching to an emblem at the clip location. 
     The frame will typically be rectangular in shape, though other shapes are possible. The frame is attached to the vehicle and the plate by a connection mechanism which may be one of several known in the prior art for connecting two components together, typically involving a screw placed through a hole in the frame, a hole in the plate, and a hole in the vehicle in a place suitable for mounting a required license plate. 
     The emblem or emblems may be of a variety of designs, shapes and sizes, including but not limited to fanciful patterns, logos, or replicas of sports equipment, animals, or other objects. The user may select an emblem which appeals to that user. The emblem is then attached to the frame with one or more attachment mechanisms. Because of the flexibility of the attachment mechanism, the emblem may be attached to the frame in one of multiple possible positions. Depending on the specific configuration of the emblem, the emblem may be attached to the top, bottom, corner, left side, or right side of a rectangular frame. Matching or contrasting emblems may be selected and attached at different positions on the same frame. If the user decides that a different position would be advantageous, the emblem can be removed and re-positioned in a new location with respect to the frame or plate. 
     The frame may be designed such that it can be oriented right-side-up or up-side-down, allowing attachment points that were at the top to be relocated to the bottom or visa-versa. By allowing the emblem to attach in both orientations at a given attachment position, the user has more possible attachment possibilities with a minimum of structure for the attachment mechanism. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the attachment mechanism includes multiple receptacles in various positions on the frame, each of which receptacles can be matched with a protuberance extending from the face of the emblem which is not observable when the emblem is attached to the frame. Each receptacle may simply consist of a hole formed in the frame which hole is sized to allow a protuberance from an emblem to snugly fit within that opening. Alternatively, a receptacle may be an apparatus which can be removably attached to a protuberance extending backwards from the emblem, such as a barb, clasp, or hook. A receptacle may also consist of an indention or other hole formed in the frame, which can be matched to a protuberance, from the emblem, allowing a nut, screw, or similar apparatus to be inserted through the protuberance and receptacle to hold the emblem in place. 
     It may be useful to provide more than one protuberance on an emblem. In this way, the position in which the emblem is attached to the frame at a point where any particular receptacle exists may be shifted by matching different protuberances from the emblem to the selected receptacle. This may be particularly beneficial for larger emblems which may obscure required information on the license plate if placed in one position, but which provide a clear view of the license plate when shifted sideways, up, or down from a particular point of attachment on the frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front, partially exploded, perspective view of a frame with movable emblems, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front, exploded, perspective view of a frame with a movable emblem, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a back, exploded, perspective view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 2 , according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a back perspective view of a frame of the present invention, illustrating how an emblem is attachable in a position on the bottom of the frame. 
         FIG. 5  is a back perspective view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 4 , illustrating how the emblem is attachable in a position on the top of the frame by rotating the frame and translating the emblem. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 5 , illustrating how the emblem may be attached in one of two different positions on the top of the frame. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 4 , illustrating how the emblem may be attached in one of two different positions on the bottom of the frame. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a frame of the present invention, showing an eagle emblem attached to the top of the frame. 
         FIG. 9  is a side section view of the frame shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged, partial view of the section view of the attachment mechanism shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a frame of the present invention, showing an emblem attached to the bottom of the frame. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 11 , showing the emblem attached to the bottom of the frame in a different position than shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 11 , showing the frame in a position rotated 180 degrees (top to bottom) from the position shown in  FIG. 11 , and the emblem translated vertically and attached at the top of the rotated frame. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 11  reoriented as in  FIG. 13 , showing the emblem attached to the top of the frame in a different position than shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of a frame of the present invention, showing two emblems attached to opposite sides of the frame. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 15 , showing the two emblems attached to opposite sides of the frame in different positions than shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a back, partially exploded, perspective view of a frame of the present invention, illustrating how multiple emblems may be attached in multiple positions to opposing sides of the frame. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of a frame of the present invention, showing two emblems, each emblem attached to a top corner of the frame. 
         FIG. 19  is a front view of the frame and two emblems of  FIG. 18 , the frame having been rotated 180 degrees (top to bottom), and the emblems being translated vertically, so that each emblem is located in a bottom corner of the frame. 
         FIG. 20  is a front, perspective, exploded, partial view of a frame of the present invention, illustrating how an emblem may be attached in a position on a corner of the frame. 
         FIG. 21  is a back, perspective, exploded, partial view of the frame and emblem shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is a front, perspective, exploded, partial view of the frame and emblem shown in  FIG. 20 , the frame having been rotated so that an emblem may be attached to the corner but at a different position of the frame relative to the plate than shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 23  is a back, perspective, exploded, partial view of the frame and emblem shown in  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is a front, partial view of a frame of the present invention with a skull emblem attached in the top left corner of the frame. 
         FIG. 25  is a front, partial view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 24 , the skull emblem attached in the top left corner of the frame in a different position than shown in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 26  is a front, partial view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 24 , the skull emblem attached in the top left corner of the frame in a different position than shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 . 
         FIG. 27  is a front, partial view of the frame and emblem of  FIG. 24 , the skull emblem attached in the top left corner of the frame in a different position than shown in  FIGS. 24 ,  25 , and  26 . 
         FIG. 28  is a front, partial view of a frame of the present invention, with a skull emblem and a cross-bones emblem both attached in the top left corner of the frame. 
         FIG. 29  is a front, partial view of the frame and emblems of  FIG. 28 , with the skull emblem and a cross-bones emblem both attached in the top left corner of the frame, in a different position than shown in  FIG. 28 . 
         FIG. 30  is a front, perspective, partially exploded view of a frame of the present invention, illustrating how a skull emblem and a cross-bones emblem may both be attached to the frame, one over the other. 
         FIG. 31  is a front, perspective, partially exploded view of the frame and emblems shown in  FIG. 30 , the orientation of the frame having been changed so that dual emblems may be attached in a different position on the frame relative to the plate. 
         FIG. 32  is a back, perspective, partial view of a frame of the present invention, showing an alternate emblem attachment mechanism. 
         FIG. 33  is a back, perspective, partial, exploded view of the frame, emblem and attachment mechanism shown in  FIG. 32 . 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, the following legend has been used: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 Frame 
               
               
                 12 
                 Plate 
               
               
                 16 
                 Emblem 
               
               
                 17 
                 Emblem inserted between primary emblem and plate 
               
               
                 18 
                 Connection means for connecting the frame to the vehicle 
               
               
                 20 
                 Receptacle 
               
               
                 22 
                 Attachment mechanism 
               
               
                 24 
                 Protuberance from emblem 
               
               
                 26 
                 Top of Frame 
               
               
                 28 
                 Bottom of Frame 
               
               
                 30 
                 Right side of Frame 
               
               
                 32 
                 Left side of Frame 
               
               
                 34 
                 Front of Frame 
               
               
                 36 
                 Front face of emblem 
               
               
                 38 
                 Back face of emblem 
               
               
                 40 
                 Screw for holding protuberance in receptacle 
               
               
                 42 
                 Back of Frame 
               
               
                 44 
                 Clip attachable to frame 
               
               
                 46 
                 Prongs from Clip 
               
               
                 48 
                 Barb or clasp for catching protuberance 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a frame for attaching a plate to a vehicle, with the unique feature of allowing one or more emblems to be removably attached to the frame in more than one possible position. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with variations to or even without one or more of these specific details. Some well-known methods and structures have not been set forth in order not to unnecessarily obscure the description of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a frame  10  may conveniently be used to attach a plate  12  to a vehicle (not shown). Numerous connection methods may be used to attach the frame and plate to the vehicle, including a conventional mechanism  18  involving a screw which is inserted in aligning holes in the frame  10 , plate  12 , and vehicle. That screw may be held in place by a nut tightened on the screw on the opposite side of the holes from the screw head or may snugly fit into a threaded receptacle in a mounting bracket or the body of the vehicle. 
     One or more emblems  16  may be selected by the user to attach to the frame  10 . Such emblems  16  may be of a variety of designs, shapes, and sizes, some examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. For example,  FIGS. 2 and 3  show an emblem  16  of a car shaped logo bearing the word “CRUISER” which can be attached to the frame  10 . The frame  10  is designed to accommodate placement of an emblem  16  in more than one position, so that the user can conveniently select a position which is aesthetically pleasing, allows information on the plate  12  to be viewed, and does not interfere with components of the vehicle (not shown) in the area in which the plate  12  is attached to the vehicle. 
     For example, the emblem  16  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  could be attached to the top  26  of the frame  10  as shown in  FIG. 5  or to the bottom  28  of the same frame  10  as shown in  FIG. 4 , by utilizing the same receptacles  20  and simply turning the frame upside down to place the receptacles  20  in the desired location, at the top  26  of the frame  10  or bottom  28  of the frame  10 . The emblem  16  attaches to the frame  10  at the same receptacles  20  in either orientation of the frame  10  without rotationally reorienting the emblem. 
     Numerous mechanisms  22  for attaching an emblem  16  to the frame  10  are possible. In a preferred embodiment, one or more protuberances  24  extending backwards and at a substantially right angle from the back face  38  of the emblem  16  may conveniently be matched with receptacles  20  on the frame  10  to attach the emblem  16  in a desired location. Some attachment mechanisms  22  involve inserting a protuberance  24  through a receptacle  20  formed in the frame  10 , while other mechanisms  22  simply require the protuberance  24  and receptacle  20  to be aligned to receive a connecting pin or screw  40  inserted through the aligned protuberance  24  and receptacle  20 . For relatively small emblems  16 , a single protuberance  24  may be sufficient to attach the emblem  16  to the frame  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 20-23 , one of several possible protuberances  24  extending from the back  38  of an emblem  16  may be matched with a single receptacle  20 , to locate the emblem  16  in a selected position with respect to the frame  10 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , an emblem  16  may be most securely fastened to the frame  10  by utilizing a set of multiple protuberances  24  which are designed to be inserted in or aligned with a matching set of receptacles  20  on the frame  10 . 
     In a distinct preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 32 and 33 , the attachment mechanism  22  may involve a separate clip  44  which is conveniently placed adjacent to the back  42  of the frame  10  in any location along the four sides  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  of the rectangular frame  10 . The clip  44  has prongs  46  which extend forward around the frame  10 , each of which prongs  46  bears a barb or other clasping apparatus  48 . Thus, when the clip  44  is placed adjacent to the back  42  of the frame  10  with prongs  46  extending forward around the frame  10 , one or more protuberances  24  from an emblem  16  may be placed adjacent to the clip prongs  46 , where they are held in place by the barbs  48 . In this manner, the emblem  16  may be placed virtually anywhere along the frame  10 , as the clip  44  may be mounted on the frame  10  in an unlimited number of locations. Once the emblem  16  is held in place by the clip  44 , the clip  44  and emblem  16  combination are removably but securely held in the selected position by the attachment of the protuberance  24  to the clip  44  with the frame  10  clamped between the clip  44  and emblem  16 . It is possible to provide one or more receptacles  20  on the prongs  46  of a clip  44 , so that protuberances  24  extending from an emblem  16  may be inserted into or held against those receptacles  20 . The reverse is also true. The attachment mechanism  22  may consist of receptacles  20  on the back face  38  of the emblem  16 , which are matched with protuberances  24  extending from a clip  44 . Similarly, the attachment mechanism  22  may consist of receptacles  20  on the back face  38  of the emblem  16  which are matched with protuberances  24  extending from the frame  10 . The attachment mechanism  22  may even consist of a receptacle  20  on the emblem  16  and receptacles  20  on the frame  10 , so that the receptacle  20  on the emblem  16  may be matched with a selected receptacle  20  on the frame  10 , with a screw or other fastener  40  inserted through the matching receptacles  20  to hold the emblem  16  to the frame  10  at a chosen position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , multiple protuberances or sets of protuberances  24  extending from the same emblem  16  may be utilized to allow that emblem  16  to be positioned in more than one location while using the same receptacle or set of receptacles  20  on the frame  10 . In this manner, an emblem  16  may be attached to the frame  10  in more than one position, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , while using the same set of receptacles  20  for attachment. Multiple protuberances or sets of protuberances  24  enable the user to shift the position of the emblem  16  up and down or from side to side by simply matching a different protuberance or set of protuberances  24  to the receptacle or set of receptacles  20  in the desired location on the frame  10 . Conversely, a single protuberance or set of protuberances  24  may be utilized to shift the position of the emblem  16  by matching that protuberance or set of protuberances  24  to one of multiple possible receptacles or sets of receptacles  20  in a desired location on the frame  10 . 
     A particular attachment mechanism  22  is illustrated in the detailed section view of  FIG. 10 . A threaded fastener or screw  40  threads into a hollow protuberance  24  such that the outer edge of the head of screw  40  rests on the raised back side of a receptacle  20 . Tightening of the screw  40  pulls the emblem  16  snug to the frame  10  for a secure, yet removable attachment. This particular attachment mechanism  22  utilizes the hollow protuberance  24  as a location pin as well as an attachment point. Having the head of screw  40  larger than the diameter of protuberance  24  and the respective receptacle  20  allows maximum thread engagement in protuberance  24  to minimize the length of screw  40  and to minimize the corresponding height or thickness required for emblems  16 . A variety of attachment mechanisms  22  are possible. 
     Also in  FIG. 10 , a second protuberance  24  is shown above the connection with the screw  40 . By removing the screw  40  and then the emblem  16 , the second protuberance  24  could be inserted into the receptacle  20  and the screw  40  reinserted. This action would move the emblem  16  down with respect to the frame  10 , changing the overall appearance and also changing the portions of the plate  12  that are obscured by the emblem  16 . 
     Utilizing different locations on the frame  10  for placement of the emblem  16  may be critically important to allow specific information on the plate  12  to be visible as required by government regulations. For example, in states in which the identity of the state is located toward the top of a license plate  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , it is advisable to locate an emblem  16  at the bottom  28  of the frame  10 , to avoid obscuring the name of the state on the plate  12 . However, if the state identifying information is toward the bottom of the plate  12 , an emblem location on the top  26  of the frame  10  may be advantageous, as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . If multiple sets of protuberances  24  extend from the back  38  of the emblem  16 , different positions of the emblem  16  for a given orientation of the plate  12  are possible. As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12  and  FIGS. 13 and 14 , even though placement of the emblem  16  in particular receptacles  20  may be dictated by the legal requirement to not obscure a particular portion of the license plate  12 , multiple positions are still possible and may be chosen based on aesthetic preference or by situational fit requirements for the particular vehicle. 
     Similarly, a user may prefer to place one or more emblems  16  on the right side  30  and/or left side  32  of the frame  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 17 , having multiple protuberances or sets of protuberances  24  extending from the back side  38  of the emblem  16  allow the emblems  16  to be shifted from one position to another while located on the sides  30 ,  32  of the frame  10 . These options also allow choices based on aesthetic preference, situational fit requirements for the vehicle, and visibility requirements for government issued tags or plate features. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , emblems  16  may be removably attached to the frame  10  in corner positions. Indeed, each emblem  16  may be situated in the same corner in multiple positions such as a left upper position as shown in  FIG. 24 , a right upper position as shown in  FIG. 25 , a left lower position as shown in  FIG. 26 , or a right lower position as shown in  FIG. 27 . By aligning a protuberance  24  with one of multiple receptacles  20  formed in a corner or other area of the frame  10 , the position of the emblem  16  within that corner or other area may be shifted from the position achieved utilizing a different receptacle  20 . 
     As best demonstrated by  FIGS. 28 ,  29 ,  30 , and  31 , multiple emblems  16 ,  17  may be stacked on top of each other. This may be accomplished by including receptacles  20  in the back emblem  17  of two stacked emblems  16 ,  17 , to allow one or more protuberances  24  extending from the front emblem  16  to be matched with the receptacles  20  in the back emblem  17  as well as aligned with receptacles  20  in the frame  10 . A single screw or other fastener  40  may conveniently be inserted from the back  42  of the frame  10  through an aligned hollow protuberance  24  and receptacles  20  to secure the attachment of emblems  16 ,  17 . Other attachment methods are possible. 
     The stackable emblems  16 ,  17  allow additional options for the user. As shown in  FIG. 28  contrasted with  FIG. 24 , including the back emblem  17  can require more available space. Whether the back emblem  17  may be displayed may depend on the available space on the vehicle and whether particular areas of the plate  12  are legally required to be visible. Positional changes are still available as seen in  FIGS. 28 and 29 , though the overall size of the emblem  16  and  17  is greater because of the addition of the emblem  17 . If space is not available, or if aesthetic desires dictate, the front emblem  16  may be attached without the back emblem  17 . The ability to remove the back emblem  17  while still displaying the front emblem  16  to accommodate specific needs for space or appearance is unique to this frame  10 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such disclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, various alterations, modifications, or alternative applications of the invention will, no doubt, be suggested to those skilled in the art after having read the preceding disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted as encompassing all alterations, modifications, or alternative applications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.