US3921324A

US3921324A - Illuminated license plate

Info

Publication number: US3921324A
Application number: US481958A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joe W Flannery
Original assignee: Lee Raymond Organization Inc
Current assignee: Lee Raymond Organization Inc
Priority date: 1974-06-24
Filing date: 1974-06-24
Publication date: 1975-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-25

Abstract

An illuminated license plate for use with vehicles or for other purposes which employs spaced apart vertical parallel outer and inner members connected by a flexible hollow translucent tube extending between the plates along the peripheries thereof. Light producing means are disposed within the tube. The outer member has openings defining letters, numbers or other indicia. The tube produces the effect of a light emitting frame and light also passes out through the openings to define the indicia.

Description

United States Patent Flannery Nov. 25, 1975 [54] ILLUMINATED LICENSE PLATE 2,562,740 7/1951 Rizer 40/204 [75] Inventor: Joe W. Flannery, Toronto, Canada 05c 40/204 [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Inc., a part interest Assistant Exaniiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras [22] F1led: June 24, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl- 4811958 An illuminated license plate for use with vehicles or for other purposes which employs spaced apart verti- 52 U.S. c1. 40/204; 40/133 R eel parallel outer and inner members connected y a 51 1111. (:1. G09F 13/02 flexible hollow translucent tube extending between the 58 Field of Search 40/209, 204, 133 Plates along the peripheries thereef- Light Producing means are disposed within the tube. The outer mem- [56] References Cited ber has openings defining letters, numbers or other in- UNITED STATES PATENTS dicia. The tube produces the effect of a light emitting frame and 11ght also passes out through the openmgs 1,487,548 3/1924 Esters 40/133 R X e to defme the 1nd1c1a.

l,664,302 3/1928 Leopold et a1... 40/209 X 1,792,635 2/1931 Gropper 40/133 R X 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures Q 4 e i III-lung US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 ILLUMINATED LICENSE PLATE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, license plates used on vehicles or for other purposes carry indicia such as numbers, letters or the like which are illuminated by directing light from an adjacent lamp thereon.

In the present invention, the indicia are defined by openings through which light passes to provide illumination. Moreover, the member carrying these openings is provided with a peripherally disposed translucent frame which itself has light passing therethrough to define an illuminated frame.

Typically, one or more incandescent lamps provide light but also provide heat to melt snow or ice. The indicia are more clearly defined at greater distances than is the case with conventional plates. The structure has an enhanced appearance and is easily manufactured at low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention; and FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a flat horizontally elongated sheet or plate is secured to a vehicle by bolts, clips or the like (not shown). The outer surface 12 of the plate is treated as for example by polishing to be light reflective.

An outer parallel spaced apart aligned plate 14 has cut outs or openings 16 defining letters, numbers or other indicia.

A flexible hollow translucent plastic tube 18 defining a hollow rectangle has parallel

vertical extensions

20A and 20B defining a clip detachably engaging the front surface of plate 10. Tube 18 also has a removable inner spacer liner 22 which is disposed between the plates. The tube extends between the plates peripherally thereabout.

The liner carries one or more sockets 24 with incandescent lamps 26 removahly disposed therein. Wiring 28 connected to the sockets extends outward through an opening 30 in plate 10 to make connection through the headlight switch to the battery.

The tube, being flexible and somewhat stretchable, is easily pulled off or snapped on.

The tube must pass light and can be transparent if desired. The tube can be colored or clear.

While the invention has been described with detailed reference to the drawings, the protection sought is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A license plate structure comprising:

a flat vertical inner member;

a parallel flat outer member spaced from the inner member, said outer member having openings defining letters, numbers or other indicia;

a flexible hollow translucent plastic tube defining a hollow rectangle and having two parallel vertically inwardly extending extensions with a removable translucent inner spacer liner disposed therebetween, said liner being disposed between said members and extending transversely between the outer edges of the two members to maintain spacing therebetween, said extensions detachably engaging the peripheries of both members along the outside surfaces of both members and functioning as a clip, said extensions and said liner holding the members together in spaced relationship;

a plurality of sockets extending through said liner into the space within the tube in spaced relationship;

a like plurality of incandescent lamps, each lamp being disposed removably in a corresponding socket; and

electrically conductive means extending through said inner member into the region between the members and connected to said sockets whereby when an electric current is caused to flow in said means, the lamps are energizied and illuminate said indicia forming openings and said tube.

Claims

1. A license plate structure comprising: A FLAT VERTICAL INNER MEMBER; A PARALLEL FLAT OUTER MEMBER SPACED FROM THE INNER MEMBER, SAID OUTER MEMBER HAVING OPENINGS DEFINING LETTERS, NUMBERS OR OTHER INDICIA; A FLEXIBLE HOLLOW TRANSLUCENT PLASTIC TUBE DEFINING A HOLLOW RECTANGLE AND HAVING TWO PARALLEL VERTICALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING EXTENSIONS WITH A REMOVABLE TRANSLUCENT INNER SPACER LINER DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN, SAID LINER BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TWO MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN SPACING THEREBETWEEN, SAID EXTENSIONS DETACHABLY ENGAGING THE PERIPHERIES OF BOTH MEMBERS ALONG THE OUTSIDE SURFACES OF BOTH MEMBERS AND FUNCTIONING AS A CLIP, SAID EXTENSIONS AND SAID LINER HOLDING THE MEMBERS TOGETHER IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP; A PLURALITY OF SOCKETS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID LINER INTO THE SPACE WITHIN THE TUBE IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP; A LIKE PLURALITY OF INCANDESCENT LAMPS, EACH LAMP BEING DISPOSED REMOVABLY IN A CORRESPONDING SOCKET; AND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID INNER MEMBER INTO THE REGION BETWEEN THE MEMBERS AND CONNECTED TO SAID SOCKETS WHEREBY WHEN AN ELECTRIC CURRENT IS CAUSED TO FLOW IN SAID MEANS, THE LAMPS ARE ENERGIZIED AND ILLUMINATE SAID INDICIA FORMING OPENINGS AND SAID TUBE.