Patent ID: 7210255

Claim:
A padded license plate assembly, comprising: a rectangular frame made from a resilient material and adapted for retaining a license plate, the frame defining a border surrounding the perimeter of a license plate; a plurality of resilient screw caps integrally attached to the frame, each of the caps having an axial bore defined therein; a plurality of license plate screws, each of the screws having a head engaging a corresponding one of the screw caps and a threaded shank extending from the frame, the axial bore being aligned with the head of the screw in order to provide access for a fastener tool for attaching the frame to an automobile; wherein each of said screw caps comprises: a toroidal shoulder attached integrally attached to said frame; a frustoconically-shaped head; and a hollow, cylindrical neck connecting the frustoconically-shaped head to the shoulder, the neck being smaller in diameter than said shoulder and a base of the frustoconically-shaped head, whereby said caps are adapted to collapse upon impact in a collision.