GB2382838A

GB2382838A - Plate securing device

Info

Publication number: GB2382838A
Application number: GB0129195A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Gray
Original assignee: Keymite Ltd
Current assignee: Keymite Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-06
Filing date: 2001-12-06
Publication date: 2003-06-11
Also published as: GB0129195D0

Abstract

A vehicle plate securing device (10) for temporary attachment of an information plate(50) to a vehicle and which comprises a pair of resiliently interconnected hooks(12,13), the first hook (12) being fixed to a strut (11) attachable to a vehicle, with the second hook(13) being secured to the strut(11) through a resilient connection (14), the two hooks (12,13) being engagable with opposite edges of a plate. The strut(11)is a substantially flat elongate strut having the first hook (12) at one end and an elastomeric strap 14 at its other end.

Description

A Vehicle Information Plate Holder Field This invention relates to a vehicle information plate holder which is usable for temporary display of an information plate on a vehicle either in place of or covering a vehicle registration plate.

Background of the Invention When new vehicles and nearly new used-vehicles are displayed for sale in vehicle showrooms or outside, the vehicle registration plate may be substituted by another information plate of similar dimensions which may for example carry the name of a vehicle dealer or the manufacturer's own approved programme. For new vehicles these information plates are then removed after sale of the vehicle and replaced by a new vehicle registration plate. Frequently, the registration plates of used vehicles are removed when the vehicles are displayed for sale and the information plates are substituted in their place. The vehicle may then be provided with new replacement registration plates on being sold.

Typically, attachment of the information plate involves the use of fasteners such as screws and may necessitate drilling operations. The replacement of a registration plate by the information plate and subsequent fitting of the registration plate may involve other time consuming operations.

The present invention provides a simple re-usable securing device which is readily usable on a vehicle for temporary attachment of an information plate.

Statements of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a plate securing device for temporary attachment of a plate to a vehicle and which comprises a pair of hooks, or clips, which are resiliently interconnected, a first of said hooks being fixed to a strut attachable to a vehicle, with the second of said hooks being secured to the strut through a resilient connection, the two hooks being engagable with opposite edges of a plate.

The strut may have an elongate aperture extending longitudinally thereof and may be mountable on the vehicle by means of a fastener eg. a screw, passing through the elongate aperture.

Alternatively, the device may be provided with a second pair of rearwardly facing hooks, preferably arranged back-to-back with the first pair of hooks, and which may engage with the edges of a plate previously mounted to the vehicle.

Description of the Drawings The invention will be described by way of example and with

reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a first plate securing device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is section of the device taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is the section shown in Fig. 2 with a information plate mounted in situ, Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a second plate securing device according to the present invention, Fig. 5 is a section of the device on the line V-V also showing an information plate mounted in situ, and Fig. 6 is an isometric front view of a plate secured by two devices in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention With reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and Fig. 6, there is shown a plate securing device 10 which in use temporarily attaches an information plate 50 to a vehicle either over, or as a substitute for the vehicle registration plate. Two, or more, of said devices 10 may be used to hold the plate 50 in location. The information plate may be rectangular as shown, square or any other required shape which substantially matches

the shape of a registration plate.

The device 10 comprises an elongate strut 11, which is substantially flat, with a first hook 12 fixed at one end of the strut 11, and preferably formed integrally with the strut. A second hook 13 is located at the other end of the strut and connected thereto by a resilient connection 14. Both hooks 12 & 13 are turned inwardly and face in the same direction. The resilient connection 14 allows the hooks to be moved apart and biases the two hooks together to engage on opposite edges of the plate 50, as shown in Figs 3 & 6.

The strut 11 has an elongate aperture 16 therein to accommodate a fastener 17, preferably a screw fastener, but other suitable fasteners may be used, for attachment of the device to a registration plate mounting plinth (not shown) on a vehicle having a previously formed screw hole formed in the plinth. A previously fixed registration plate may have been removed from the plinth prior to attachment of the device 10. The elongate aperture allows the fixed hook 12 to be positioned as is desired relative to the vehicle.

The resilient connection 14 is formed from an elastomeric material strap material for example a rubberised textile and in use allows the second hook 13 to be moved against the elastic bias to engage the opposite edge of a plate 50 whose

other edge has been inserted in the fixed hook 12. The connection 14 may be secured to the strut 11 and hook 13 by suitable means 19 for example rivets, adhesive, clamping devices or anchor hooks etc..

A second invention embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. s 4 and 5 in which the plate securing device 40 clips over an existing registration plate 60. In this embodiment, the first hook 42 is fixed to a flat strut 41 as before and moveable hook 43 is attached to the strut by a resilient connection 44. A second pair of rearwardly facing hooks 52,53 are attached to the strut 41 and to the resilient connection 14 adjacent the second moveable hook 43. The second pair of hooks 52 & 53 are preferably back-to-back with the first pair of hooks and face inwardly to engage opposite edges of the existing registration plate 60.

For this embodiment, a pair of support devices 40 are simply clipped over an existing mounted registration plate, and the cover plate 50 simultaneously clipped into position.

Claims

Claims 1. A plate securing device for temporary attachment of an information plate to a vehicle and which comprises a pair of resiliently interconnected hooks, a first hook being fixed to a strut attachable to a vehicle, with a second hook being secured to the strut through a resilient connection, the two hooks being engagable with opposite edges of a plate.
2. A securing device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the strut is a substantially flat elongate strut having the first hook at one end and the resilient connection at its other end.
3. A securing device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the first hook is formed integrally with the strut.
4. A securing device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the strut has an elongate aperture extending longitudinally thereof and is mountable on the vehicle by means of a fastener passing through the elongate aperture.
5. A securing device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein there is further provided with a second pair of rearwardly facing hooks, one on the strut and one adjacent said second hook and which are engagable with the edges of a

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plate previously mounted to the vehicle.
6. A securing device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the second pair of hooks are arranged back-to-back with the first pair of hooks.