AU2006100992A4 - Vehicle Compliance Labels - Google Patents

Description

(cI TITLE OF THE INVENTION VEHICLE COMPLIANCE LABELS 0BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

INO

I. Field of the Invention 100011 The present invention relates to identification labels for transport vehicles, including automotive vehicles and water vessels, and to methods for making and applying identification labels.

2. Description of the Art 100021 Vehicles sold in Australia must have attached to the vehicle body a compliance plate, typically a small metal plate about 100mm by 50mm, which bears details such as the make and model of the vehicle and the build date. The fitting of a compliance plate by the manufacturer or importer signifies that the vehicle meets the Australian Design Rules (ADR), which are administered by the Federal Office of Road Safety.

100031 As well as information which is generic to the particular model of vehicle, the compliance plate further includes information specific to the particular vehicle, specifically the chassis number/VIN (vehicle identification number) of the vehicle.

100041 The purpose of including the VIN on the compliance plate is to reduce the incidence of motor vehicle 'rebirthing', in which professional thieves fraudulently alter a compliance plate or transplant the compliance plate from one vehicle onto a stolen vehicle to disguise its identity.

100051 The problem of motor vehicle theft and rebirthing is a significant one, and has driven the adoption of alternative technologies.

100061 Australian Patent No 770041 to Datadot Technology Pty Limited 0 z discloses a technique for applying identifier labels to an object, by spraying a plurality of microdots bearing the VIN onto the object. This technique is employed by some vehicle manufacturers to label the vehicle chassis.

100071 A disadvantage of the DataDot system is that specialist equipment is required to read the microdots to detect tampering, limiting the usefulness of the system given that many vehicle sales are handled privately.

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DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 100081 The present invention aims to provide a vehicle identification label construction and method which is creates an impediment to replication or tampering, yet may be read without the need for specialist equipment.

[00091 In one form, the invention provides a vehicle identification label comprising a metal plate having an image photographically applied thereto, and a protective layer covering the image.

100101 Preferably, the protective layer is a hardened layer, more preferably an anodised layer.

100111 In a further form, the invention provides a vehicle identification label comprising a plate having an image applied thereto, the plate having one or more fiangible portions adapted to break upon detachment of the plate firom the vehicle.

100121 Further forms of the invention will be apparent from the claims and from the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00131 The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: 100141 Fig. 1 illustrates a vehicle compliance plate according to one embodiment of the invention; 100151 Fig. 2 shows an image layout and a perforation layout for a vehicle compliance plate according to a second embodiment; INO 3 100161 Fig. 3 illustrates a knife die layout for cutting the perforations in the 0 z plate of Fig. 2; and c- [00171 Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a vehicle compliance plate according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 1 100181 Fig. 1 is a front view of a vehicle compliance plate according to one embodiment.

100191 The plate 10 is made of metal, preferably of a sufficiently corrosionresistant metal e.g. anodised aluminium or stainless steel. Aluminium is particularly preferred.

100201 The plate is sufficiently thin to allow it to form a label which will conform to any contours or bends in the vehicle panel to which it is to be attached without lifting at the edge of the plate and providing a weak point for potential removal from the vehicle. Aluminium of a thickness of approximately 0.02 to 0.25mm, more preferably from about 0.05 to 0.15 mm, and most preferably about 0.08mm thickness, is preferred.

100211 In modem vehicles, the compliance plates are usually attached to the vehicle sill or in the rear luggage compartment, whereas in older vehicles they were often located in the engine bay.

[00221 The metal has a photographically-applied image embedded into face of the plate, including information generic to the vehicle model, such as details of the vehicle's manufacturer or importer 12, model name 14, seating capacity 16, gross vehicle mass (GVM) 18, and optionally a vehicle manufacturer's stock code (DSN) 100231 The plate 10 further bears the ADR approval number 22 and compliance statement 24.

100241 The image on the plate preferably also contains one or more background images 26 such as a trade mark image of the vehicle manufacturer, which serve to add complexity to the image to increase difficulty in replication.

100251 The images may include microscopic images to increase the difficulty 0 z of reproduction. For example, in the plate image shown in Fig. 2 each of the Hyundai C¢I H logos may be made up of a series of microscopic dots each made up of a similar H logos as shown in the detail in Fig. 2.

~100261 In addition to the above information, the image further contains information specific to the particular vehicle, namely the V[N 28 in both humanreadable and barcode form, for example in standard barcode 3 of 9 format as used in NO the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2.

8[00271 The plate 10 has a number of lines of weakness in the form of plurality of cuts or perforated lines 30. Fig. 3 shows a knife die configuration for forming perforations according to the embodiment of Fig. 2, including cuts which extend inwards from the edge of the plate, serrated cuts, and optionally cuts in the form of the vehicle manufacturer's trade mark.

100281 The plate 10 may be attached to the vehicle by any suitable means, but preferably by means of adhesive, and more preferably by a high strength adhesive.

The strength of attachment should be greater than the strength of the lines of weakness so that the plate will tear if the compliance plate is detached from the vehicle.

100291 Preferred adhesives include high strength acrylate polymer adhesives such as VHB (very high bonding) adhesive available from 3M. For ease of application to the vehicle, it is preferred that the adhesive be in the form of an adhesive tape applied to the back of the plate during the manufacture of the plate, with a peel sheet which extends past the edges of the plate, to be removed just before application of the plate to the vehicle.

100301 Fig. 4 is a flowchart describing a method of manufacture of a aluminium compliance plate with photographic image.

100311 As a first step, the image to be applied to the plate is created to include the image elements mentioned above with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, for example using a graphics software package.

100321 The image is then printed to a photographic film negative.

100331 The metal plate is prepared for receiving the photographic image, for example by application of photosensitive materials to its surface, and the plate is exposed to light via the negative to impart the photographic image onto the surface of 0 z the metal plate.

C-i 100341 The photographic image then undergoes developing, fixing rinsing (-i in order to fix the photographic image permanently on the metal plate.

c- 100351 Where appropriate, for example where an aluminium plate is used, the plate may then be anodised to form a hardened protective layer on the plate, in turn protecting the image against wear and alteration by a layer of passive aluminium IND oxide. Processes for anodising aluminium are in themselves well known in the art.

100361 Preferably, the anodised layer is thin, preferably less than 15 gtm thick, (-i and most preferably about 10-15 This is especially advantageous where the plate is to be applied to the vehicle in a position other than in the engine bay, the thinness of the anodised layer causing the plate to discolour upon application of excessive heat such as that which might be applied by a person using a heat gun to attempt to remove the plate from the vehicle.

[00371 The anodised layer is sealed by the application of sealing salts and rinsed as is known in the art 100381 An example of a suitable process and equipment for applying the photographic image and anodised coating to a metal plate is the MetalPhoto technique available from Horizons Incorporated of Ohio, USA. Further information may be found at www.horizonsISG.com.

100391 Following the anodisation and sealing step, the plate is cut to create a series of lines of weakness in the plate, such as the perforated lines 30 shown in Fig. 1 or Figs. 2 and 3 extending from adjacent the edge of the plate towards the centre.

[00401 The plate is then ready for attachment to the vehicle body by adhesion for other suitable attachment means, such that detachment of the plate from the vehicle will cause the plate to tear along the perforated cuts 30. Any attempt to remove the plate from the vehicle for use on another vehicle will cause substantial damage to the plate, so tampering with the compliance plate may therefore be readily detected.

100411 By applying the image to the metal plate and encasing it within a hardened anodised layer, alteration of the plate will be readily detected.

100421 Furthermore, the photographic process used to apply the image to the 0 z metal plate can handle quite complex and sophisticated images, including inclusion of CI security images such as those incorporated in credit cards or licences. The use of visual information which can be read by the naked eye is an advantage, as the N, information and any attempted tampering with the plate may be detected visually, without the need for special equipment.

100431 The equipment used to apply the photographic image to the plate will IDbe beyond the means of most car thieves, and therefore the opportunity for production of counterfeit plates will be quite low.

100441 In this specification, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of"including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of"consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise, comprised and comprises where they appear.

100451 While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof.

The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. It will further be understood that any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Claims (2)

1. 3. A vehicle identification label according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal plate has a thickness of less than about 0.15mm and is conformable to contours of a vehicle panel to which the label is applied.
2. 4. A vehicle identification label according to any preceding claim, wherein the plate includes an adhesive layer for attachment to a vehicle panel, and wherein the plate is adapted to discolour upon application of heat sufficient to allow removal of the plate from the panel. A vehicle identification label comprising a plate adapted for attachment to a transport vehicle, having an image applied thereto, the plate having one or more frangible portions adapted to break upon detachment of the plate from the vehicle.