GB2380308A

GB2380308A - Vehicle identification plate

Info

Publication number: GB2380308A
Application number: GB0123490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gwndaf Parry
Original assignee: SPACE IT LETTERING Ltd
Current assignee: SPACE IT LETTERING Ltd
Priority date: 2001-09-29
Filing date: 2001-09-29
Publication date: 2003-04-02
Also published as: GB0123490D0

Abstract

A vehicle identification plate 20 comprises a backplate 22 having a reflective layer 24 placed on a front face thereof and characters 14 being provided on the front face of the reflective layer 24. The back plate may be made from ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene Styrene).The visible characters 14 may be in the from of self-adhesive characters or are printed or painted, or laser burned, onto the reflective layer 24 prior to ita attachment to the back plate 22. A procreative layer 28 may be placed over the reflective layer 24 to trap the characters 14 and can be extended to the back of the back plate 22 to provide an effective environmental seal. The vehicle identification plate 20 may be affixed to the vehicle body by double sided adhesive pads, screws, clips, spring studs or magnets.

Description

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION PLATE The present invention relates to vehicle identification plates.

The invention particularly relates to such plates (number plates) required by statute to be displayed on the front and/or rear of a road vehicle to provide a unique identity for that vehicle and, in some jurisdictions, to provide instant visual confirmation that the vehicle has had taxes paid, permitting it to be used upon roads.

With legislative requirements for vehicle number plates to provide a reflective surface against which alphanumeric characters, making up the vehicle identification number, may be viewed, and with legislative requirements for vehicle number plates to have properties of impact resistance and rigidity, a style of number plate has been developed wherein alphanumeric characters are assembled on the back of a transparent front plate (usually acrylic) and a reflective layer applied to the rear overall. While this manner of assembly is widely used, it has the disadvantage that the transparent front plate readily chips or fails (due to the brittleness of acrylic) when struck by stones and debris from the road and that the PET (polyester) material slowly becomes opalescent due to the absorption of water. Further, the rear reflective layer slowly delaminates from the front plate, a condition which is exacerbated by putting the vehicle to which it is attached through, for example, a car wash machine. The present invention seeks to provide a vehicle identification plate which is of lighter construction than the prior art vehicle identification plate (which conforms to British Standard BSAU 145d). The present invention also seeks to provide a vehicle identification plate which is cheaper to construct than the prior art plate. The present invention further seeks to provide a vehicle identification plate which does not deteriorate with time and where the visibility of the alphanumeric characters cannot be degraded by the impact of objects from the road.

The present invention consists in a vehicle identification plate comprising: a back plate, having a back face affixable to the

outside of a vehicle and a front face, facing away from the vehicle when said back face is affixed to a vehicle, said back plate defining the mechanical properties of said vehicle identification plate; a laminar reflective sheet, having a first side applicable to said front face of said back plate to hold said reflective sheet on said back plate and a second, reflective side visible when said back plate is affixed to the outside of a vehicle and said reflective sheet is held on said front face of said back plate ; and visible characters, applicable to said second side of said reflective layer.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate which can comprise a transparent protective film, applicable to the second side of the reflective sheet over the readable characters.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the protective film can be extended over the edge of the back plate to seal the edges of the visible characters and the reflective sheet.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the protective film can extend around a portion of the back face of the back plate.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the visible characters can be self-adhesive characters.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the self adhesive characters can be cut from flexible polymer sheet.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the visible characters are applicable to the second side of the reflective sheet by printing.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the printing can be laser printer printing.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the printing can be screen printing.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the visible characters are applicable to the second side ofthe reflective sheet by painting.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the painting can be stencil painting.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the painting can be achieved by automatic control of a paint spray gun.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the visible characters are applicable to the second side of the reflective sheet by burning with a laser beam.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the laminar reflective sheet can comprise a polymer sheet having reflective spheres embedded therein.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the back plate can be made from ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein said back plate can have a thickness in the range O. lcm to 0.5cm The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the reflective sheet can have a thickness in the range of. 0025 cm to. 050 cm.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the protective film can have a thickness in the range 0.0025cm to 0.05 cm.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate which can comprise double sided adhesive pads on the back face of the back plate to affix the back plate to the body of a vehicle.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate wherein the back plate can comprise screw holes for accepting screws to screw the vehicle identification plate to the body of a vehicle.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate which can comprise clips, attachable to the body of a vehicle, and operative to engage the vehicle identification plate to hold the vehicle identification plate on the vehicle.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate which can comprise spring studs, a first part of the spring studs being attachable to the body of a vehicle, a second part of the spring studs being attachable to the back face of the back plate, and the first parts of the spring studs being co-operative with the second part of the spring studs to allow attachment to the vehicle or removal from the vehicle of the vehicle identification plate.

The present invention further provides a vehicle identification plate which can comprise one or more magnets, affixed to the back face of the back plate and permitting attachment to and removal from a ferromagnetic portion of a vehicle of the vehicle identification plate.

The invention is further explained, by way of example, by the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Figures 1A and 1B show a vehicle identification plate according to the prior art.

Figures 2A to 2D show one embodiment of the present invention using adhesive characters.

Figures 2E to 2G show a second embodiment of the present invention using printed alphanumeric characters.

Figure 3 shows the manner of printing used in the embodiments of Figures 2E to 2G.

Figure 4 shows how the reflective sheet, common to all the embodiments of the present invention, but particularly appropriate to Figures 2E to 2G and Figure 3, comprises a"peel and stick" back, and Figures 5A to 5F show various ways in which the vehicle identification plate of the present invention may be attached to a vehicle.

Attention is drawn to Figures 1A and IB. These show the prior art vehicle identification plate. Figure 1A shows the identification plate viewed from its front and Figure 1B shows the vehicle identification plate of Figure 1A in cross-section along the dotted line X-X'looking in the direction of the arrows.

The prior art number plate 10 comprises a transparent front plate 12 made from acrylic or PET. The cost of the front plate 12 is increased by the fact that the acrylic or PET is relatively thick in order to achieve the required mechanical strength, and the material itself is modified so that it can resist impact. Selfadhesive characters, typically made of cut vinyl sheet, are placed upon the rear face 16 of the front plate 12. A reflective plastic

film 18 is then applied over the characters 14 and the rear face 16 of the front plate 12 to provide a reflective surface when viewed from the front and a non-reflective surface when viewed from the direction of the rear face 16. The reflective film 18, as is well known, can contain pigmented spheres which redirect the output from a vehicle headlight back towards the vehicle from which it originates, or can contain metallic reflective particles in a transparent polymer matrix. Suitable reflective materials are made by and available from the companies 3M, Nikkalite and LG Chem, to name but a few. In the conception of the prior art plate 10 as shown in Figures 1A and 1B, part of the reason for the construction in the manner shown was to protect the reflective film from degeneration due to exposure to the elements.

Attention is next drawn to Figures 2A to 2D, showing a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A shows the vehicle identification plate according to the present invention when viewed from its front face, and Figures 2B to 2D are cross-sections thereof along the dotted line Y-Y'looking in the direction of the arrows.

Vehicle identification plate 20 comprises a non-transparent (opaque) back plate 22, made for example, from ABS or any other mouldable or extrudable lightweight material providing a greater strength to weight ratio than the front plate 12 of the prior art number plate 10. Although it is preferred that the back plate 22 is of a non-transparent nature, it is not required of the present invention that it has the property of opacity. The back plate can have a thickness in the range, typically, but not restricted to, O. lcm to 0. 5cm Figures 2A to 2G and 5A to 5F, for the sake of clarity, are shown with an exacerbated vertical scale where the thicknesses of layers are shown greater than they would be in real life in order to provide clarity of the drawings.

Drawing attention to Figure 2A, the vehicle identification plate 20 has visible characters 26. As will be explained, the visible characters 26 may be provided in more than one fashion.

Attention is now drawn to Figure 2B showing a cross-section of a first embodiment of the invention, where a reflective layer 24 having a thickness, typically, in the range of, but not restricted to, . 0025 cm to. 050 cm. , has self-adhesive characters 14, preferably made from stamped or cut vinyl sheet, applied thereto.

There is a slight difference between these and the self-adhesive characters 14 shown in Figures 1A and lB, in that the adhesive is required to be on the opposite face thereof. Otherwise, they are the same. The reflective layer 24, being weather resistant, and the self-adhesive characters 14 also being weather resistant, there is nothing further that requires to be done. The embodiment of Figure 2B can be provided as a complete vehicle identification plate, being cheap, lightweight and simple to make.

Attention is drawn to Figure 2C, showing a refinement over the embodiment shown in Figure 2B. A transparent protective layer 28 in the form of a thin film is applied over the self-adhesive characters 14 and the reflective layer 24 to provide additional protection. The protective layer 28 can be made from, among other materials, PET (Polyester), polycarbonate, clear acrylic, LEXAN (TM) or TEDLAR (TM) ). The protective film can have a thickness in the range, typically, but not restricted to, 0.0025cm to 0.05 cm.

The self-adhesive characters 14 are trapped between the reflective layer 24 and the protective layer 28. Any tendency for the selfadhesive characters 14 to become detached from the reflective layer 24 is thus countered.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 2D, showing a further improvement over the embodiment shown in Figures 2B and 2C. The protective layer 28 is extended around the sides 30 of the back plate 22 and, for preference, extends slightly around the back of the back plate 22, to trap the reflective layer 24 and the self-adhesive characters 14 and to seal them all against ingress of water or mechanical working, experienced for example in a car wash, so countering any tendency for the reflective layer or the self-

adhesive characters 14 or the protective layer itself to become detached.

Attention is now drawn to Figures 2E to 2G, showing a second embodiment of the vehicle identification plate 20 of Figure 2A.

Figure 2E shows a cross-section of the second embodiment of the vehicle identification plate 20, otherwise shown in Figure 2A.

Here a printed reflective layer 24'is stuck to the back plate 22.

Instead of visible characters 26 being formed by the use of selfadhesive characters 14, printed characters 32 are deposited directly onto the printed reflective layer 24'. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2E the printed characters 32 are made using an ink or paint which is weather resistant. By contrast, in Figure 2F the protective layer 28 is applied where extra protection is desired, or where the printed characters 32 are not particularly weather resistant. Finally, in Figure 2G, just as in Figure 2D, the protective layer 28 is wrapped around the end 30 of the back plate 22 to improve resistance to de-lamination and water penetration.

Figure 3 shows one way in which the printed reflective layer 24' can be prepared. A computer 34 controls a laser printer 36 which prints a reflective layer blank 38 with characters selected by a program employing the keyboard 40 and/or the mouse 42. The toner powder, used in the printer 36, can be selected for weather resistant properties. In general, normal toner powder is found to be adequate for the purpose.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the reflective layer 24, 24', 38 as it is presented to the printer 36 to be printed, or as is used on the embodiments shown in Figures 2B to 2D. The reflective layer 24, 24', 38 has a layer of adhesive 44 protected by a peelable layer 46. The reflective layer 24, 24', 38, has the peelable layer 46 removed and is affixed by the adhesive layer 44 to the back plate 22.

Figures 2E to 2G, and Figure 3, show one way in which visible characters 26 may be applied to the reflective layer 24, 24', 38.

The invention also comprises further methods of applying visible characters 26 to the reflective layer 24, 24', 38. These further methods include, but are not restricted to, screen printing, stencil printing, laser burning, and spray painting either using stencils or robotic control of an accurate spray gun.

Attention is next drawn to Figures 5A to 5F, showing various manners in which the vehicle identification plate 20 of the present invention may be affixed to a vehicle.

Figure 5A shows the vehicle identification plate viewed from its front, and Figures 5B to 5F show cross-sectional views of the vehicle identification plate 20 corresponding to the embodiment shown in Figure 2B. It is to be understood that all the other embodiments shown in Figures 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G may also be affixed in the same manner.

Figure 5A shows how screw holes 48 may be drilled through the vehicle identification plate 20 to accommodate screws 50 which pass through the screw holes 48 and engage the body 52 of a vehicle, as shown in Figure 5B.

Figure 5C shows how double-sided adhesive pads 54 may be applied to the rear of the back plate 22 to affix the vehicle identification plate 20 to the body 52 of a vehicle.

Figure 5D shows how clips 56 may be glued or screwed to the body 52 of a vehicle to hold the vehicle identification plate 20 against the body 52 of the vehicle. The clips 56 shown in Figure 5D can be moved from an open to a closed position as indicated by arrows 58.

Only two clips have been shown, one at either end of the vehicle identification plate 20. It is to be understood that clips 56 can be provided on the long side 60 of the vehicle identification plate 20 and that there can be more than one clip on each side of the vehicle identification plate 20. It is also to be appreciated

that, whereas the clips 56 shown in Figure 5D are movable, fixed clips working by elastic displacement when the vehicle identification plate 20 is introduced to the body 52 of a vehicle, are also encompassed by the present invention.

Figure 5E shows how spring studs 62 can be provided with a first part 64 affixed to the body 52 of a vehicle, and a second part 66 affixed to the rear of the vehicle identification plate 20 and can cause the vehicle identification plate 20 to become attached to the vehicle when the spring studs 62 are activated by urging the vehicle identification plate 20 in the direction of arrows 68. The spring studs 62, being similar in construction to a"press-stud"as used on clothing, allow the removal of the vehicle identification plate 20 from a vehicle by urging the vehicle identification plate 20 in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 68. It is also to be appreciated that where the second part 66 of the spring studs 62 is located on the vehicle body 52, the first part 64 of the spring studs 62 may be accommodated within a recess on the rear of the back plate 22.

Figure 5F shows another way of attaching the vehicle identification plate 20 to the body 52 of a vehicle, using one or more magnets 70 firmly attached to the rear of the back plate 22. The magnets 70, of course, will only be effective for those bodies 52 of vehicles which are made of ferro-magnetic material. Since the vast majority of vehicles are made of steel, the embodiment shown in Figure 5F is of general utility.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A vehicle identification plate comprising: a back plate, having a back face affixable to the outside of a vehicle and a front face, facing away from the vehicle when said back face is affixed to a vehicle, said back plate defining the mechanical properties of said vehicle identification plate; a laminar reflective sheet, having a first side applicable to said front face of said back plate to hold said reflective sheet on said back plate and a second, reflective side visible when said back plate is affixed to the outside of a vehicle and said reflective sheet is held on said front face of said back plate ; and visible characters, applicable to said second side of said reflective layer.
2. A vehicle identification plate according to claim 1 comprising a transparent protective film, applicable to said second side of said reflective sheet over said readable characters.
3. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 2, wherein said protective film is extendable over the edge of said back plate to seal the edges of said visible characters and said reflective sheet.
4. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 3, wherein said protective film is further extendable around a portion of the back face of said back plate.
5. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said visible characters are self-adhesive characters.
6. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 5, wherein said self adhesive characters are cut from flexible polymer sheet.

<Desc/Clms Page number 12>
7. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said visible characters are applicable to said second side of said reflective sheet by printing.
8. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 7, wherein said printing is laser printer printing.
9. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 7, wherein said printing is screen printing.
10. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said visible characters are applicable to said second side of said reflective sheet by painting.
11. A vehicle identification plate according to claim 10 wherein said painting is stencil painting.
12. A vehicle identification plate according to claim 10 wherein said painting is achieved by automatic control of a paint spray gun.
13. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said visible characters are applicable to said second side of said reflective sheet by burning with a laser beam.
14. A vehicle identification plate, according to claim1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6 claim 7, claim 8, claim 9, claim 10, claim 11, claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said laminar reflective sheet comprises a polymer sheet having reflective spheres embedded therein.
15. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said back plate is made from ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

<Desc/Clms Page number 13>
16. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of the preceding claim wherein said back plate has a thickness in the range O. lcm to 0.5cm
17. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of the preceding claims wherein said reflective sheet has a thickness in the range of. 0025 cm to. 050 cm.
18. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of the claims 2 to 17 wherein said protective film has a thickness in the range 0. 0025cm to 0.05 cm.
19. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of the preceding claims comprising double sided adhesive pads on the back face of said back plate to affix said back plate to the body of a vehicle.
20. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein said back plate comprises screw holes for accepting screws to screw said vehicle identification plate to the body of a vehicle.
21. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of claims 1 to 18, comprising clips, attachable to the body of a vehicle, and operative to engage the vehicle identification plate to hold the vehicle identification plate on the vehicle.
22. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of claims 1 to 18, comprising spring studs, a first part of said spring studs being attachable to the body of a vehicle, a second part of said spring studs being attachable to said back face of said back plate, and said first parts of said spring studs being co-operative with said second part of said spring studs to allow attachment to the vehicle or removal from the vehicle of said vehicle identification plate.

<Desc/Clms Page number 14>
23. A vehicle identification plate, according to any of claims 1 to 18, comprising one or more magnets, affixed to said back face of said back plate and permitting attachment to and removal from a ferromagnetic portion of a vehicle of said vehicle identification plate.
24. A vehicle identification plate, substantially as described with reference to the appended drawings.