GB2115591A

GB2115591A - Vehicle number plates

Info

Publication number: GB2115591A
Application number: GB08203715A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kang Chang Chi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-02-09
Filing date: 1982-02-09
Publication date: 1983-09-07

Abstract

A vehicle number plate 10 has pre-formed alphanumeric characters 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d applied thereto, each character being composed of a plurality of light reflective facets. The characters may be made of impact resistant fireproof plastics 20 with flanges 23 and flanges 24 which extend further than diamond-shaped light-reflecting parts 22. The plate 10 may be made of impact resistant fireproof plastics and have an identifying plate 40 embedded therein. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle number plate This invention relates to a vehicle number plate having alphanumeric characters.

A vehicle number plate according to the invention is suitable for use on two wheeled vehicles e.g. motorcycles and two wheeled trailers, as well as three or more wheeled vehicles.

As used in this specification, the term "alphanumeric character" is intended to include a letter of the alphabet and/or an Arab'ic numeral and/or any other indicating character required to be provided on a vehicle number plate.

A majority of the number plates currently employed for various automobiles and motorcycles issued by the relevant government authorities in different countries throughout the world are made by punching relief numbers on a plate of aluminium alloy, and then coating the same with paint of different colours by spraying or baking.

Conventional finished number plates have no spot-lighting effect at all, and the characters thereon cannot be seen clearly from a distance.

This is a particular problem at night, when traffic Police personnel wish to record the number plate of vehicles violating regulations. Furthermore, conventional number plates can be manufactured very easily, so that they can be readily limited or modified by unauthorised persons including particularly car thieves.

In view of the ever increasing numbers of vehicles on the road, and the need to provide greater safeguards against unauthorised manufacture, or tampering with number plates, a need has arisen to provide a vehicle number plate which can be observed and identified more readily, and which may also be less easily manufactured and/or tampered with by unauthorised personnel.

According to the invention there is provided a vehicle number plate having pre-formed alphanumeric characters applied thereto, in which each character is composed of a plurality of lightreflective facets.

One embodiment of vehicle number plate according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle number plate; and Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 2-2' in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a vehicle number plate having pre-formed alphanumeric characters applied thereto, in which each character is composed of a plurality of lightreflective facets.

The number plate comprises a plate body 10 made of fireproof and impact resistant synthetic resin (synthetic plastic material) and having alphanumeric characters applied thereto. The characters comprise reference numbers Z 1 a (0--9), reference letters 21b and 21d (A-Z) and other reference characters provided on number plates, such as hyphens or dashes 21 c. The characters are pre-machined with ultrasonic or similar machinery, and are then applied to the plate body 10 to adhere thereto in any convenient manner. Elongate holes 30 are formed in the plate body 10 to enable the number plate to be fixed at any required position at the front and/or rear of a vehicle.

Evidently, each of the characters on the number plate will be formed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of the various government authorities in any country.

The light reflective facets are provided for each character by means of a plurality of diamond shaped conical particles 22 arranged on the underside of a spot-lighting body piece 20. A border flange 24, which projects from the body 10 by a greater extent than the particles 22 (see Figure 2) encloses the particles 22 and defines the outline shape for the particular character. In addition, a symbol flange 23, having a small projecting element is also set along the edge around the front of the body piece 20, so that the spot-lighting piece formed thereby can be smoothly pressed to assemble with the plate body 10 through a mould on ultrasonic or similar machinery. Thereby, the surface smoothness of each body piece 20 and the tips of the conical particles or granules 22 on the back of the body piece 20 will not be damaged at the same time.All of the characters 21 a to 21 d can be formed in the same manner, and are made of impact resistant and fireproof synthetic resin or synthetic plastics material, or a synthetic resin with a fireproofing agent.

The plate body 10 and the method and sequence of arrangement and number of characters can be optionally pre-formed in accordance with the specifications and colours stipulated by the government bodies concerned.

The characters, each composed of a plurality of light reflective facets, form spot-lighting pieces which are arranged on the plate body 10, and then pressed and adhered thereto, for assembly with the plate body 10, using ultrasonic or similar machinery which completes the preparation of the number plate. The process is very simple and easy to be carried out in a factory, but such a finished number plate is very difficult for unauthorised persons, such as car thieves, to imitate and modify.

As shown in dashed outline in Figure 1, and also shown in Figure 2, a smaller number plate 40 made of refractory steel or aluminium, or other metal, may be built-in to the number plate. The number plate 40 bears the same alphanumeric characters as are provided on the body 10, and these characters may be formed by any of the conventional techniques for forming vehicle number plates, e.g. by punching. The number plate 40 may be inserted, or directly encased in a suitable position on the back of the plate body 10, or inside the body 10, by the use of ultrasonic machinery. In the case of a vehicle accident, or the vehicle catching fire, causing damage to the characters borne by the body 10, even though the body 10 may be burnt, there will still remain the smaller number plate 40 which will enable identification of the vehicle reference characters.

The embodiment of vehicle number plate described above with reference to the drawing has the following advantages: 1. To prevent vehicle thieves from modifying the number plate.

2. To see the vehicle number easily and clearly, day and night, in case of violation of traffic regulations.

3. To decrease the risk of car thefts owing to the difficulty in imitation of the number plate.

4. It is resistant to damage because of its fireproof and impact-resistance.

5. It can be used for a long time because of high durability.

6. It can enhance the alertness of drivers behind and promote traffic safety, because this spotlighting number plate can be seen clearly at a distance of 100 to 200 metres at night.

7. Vehicle types can be easily identified.

8. Vehicles can be easily controlled and supervised (indirectly).

9. The driver's expenditure can be cut because it is never necessary to reissue the number plate.

1 0. To symbolise the advanced traffic system and scientific technology of a certain country.

Claims

1. A vehicle number plate having pre-formed alphanumeric characters applied thereto, in which each character is composed of a plurality of lightreflective facets.

2. A number plate according to claim 1, in which the plate comprises a plate body made of fireproof impact-resistant synthetic plastics material.

3. A number plate according to claim 1 or 2, in which each character is made of impact-resistant synthetic plastics material.

4. A number plate according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the light-reflective facets of each character are formed by diamondshaped particles.

5. A number of plate according to claim 4, in which the diamond shaped particles are enclosed within a border flange defining the outline of the character.

6. A number plate according to any one of the preceding claims, including a smaller metal plate built-in to the number plate and bearing similar alphanumeric characters to the number plate, which are formed on the smaller plate by punching or other conventional techniques used for forming the characters on number plates.

7. A number plate according to claim 6, in which the smaller metal plate is applied to the side of the number plate opposite to the side bearing alphanumeric characters, or is inserted or directly encased within the body of the number plate.

8. A number plate according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawing.