AU2007299332B2

AU2007299332B2 - Motor vehicle license plate

Info

Publication number: AU2007299332B2
Application number: AU2007299332A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bjorn Beenken; Jochen Betz
Original assignee: Toennjes ISI Patent Holding GmbH
Current assignee: Toennjes ISI Patent Holding GmbH
Priority date: 2006-09-19
Filing date: 2007-08-07
Publication date: 2012-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-07
Also published as: ES2340966T3; ZA200902136B; DE502007002832D1; WO2008034491A2; EP2064090A2; PL2064090T3; WO2008034491A3; AU2007299332A1; DE102006044584A1; EP2064090B1; MX2009002941A; ATE457246T1

Abstract

In order to prevent motor vehicle license plates from being manipulated by mounting the same elsewhere, prior art license plates are partially or entirely destroyed when the same are dismounted from the designated vehicle. License plates (58) that are disposed on a fixture (59) are particularly difficult to secure in a simple and effective manner against theft, especially against the use thereof for identifying another vehicle. According to the invention, a protrusion (64) that engages into a breakthrough (65) in the license plate (58) is assigned to the fixture (59), and a top surface (75) of the breakthrough (66) and a breakthrough (65) edge which surrounds the breakthrough (66) in the license plate (58) are covered by a sticker (67). The sticker (67) cannot be removed from the license plate (58) and/or the protrusion (64) without being damaged. The sticker (67) thus creates a seal-type connection between the license plate (58) and the fixture (59). A sticker (67) that is damaged because the license plate (58) has been removed from the fixture (59) without authorization will be noticed if the dismounted license plate (58) is used for identifying other motor vehicles and thus make it very obvious that a stolen license plate (58) is used on another motor vehicle.

Description

1 MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE Technical Field The invention relates to motor vehicle license plate arrangements. Background of the Invention 5 In license plates of motor vehicles there is the risk of them being removed from the motor vehicle to which they belong and being fastened to another motor vehicle. In order to counteract such manipulations, efforts are made to attach license plates to the motor vehicle in such a way that it is either virtually impossible to detach them or the entire license plate is destroyed or parts thereof are damaged, with the result that such a 1o license plate cannot be attached to another vehicle or at least the manipulation is clearly apparent. A motor vehicle license plate arrangement generally is formed from a license plate and a fixture which supports it. Such fixtures for license plates are used, on the one hand, to make mounting of the license plate on the vehicle at all possible or to simplify it. is In particular, such fixtures are also often used to receive additional physical components of the motor vehicle license plate arrangement which cannot be accommodated on the license plate itself. In motor vehicle license plate arrangements composed of a fixture and a license plate, both the fixture and the license plate and, in particular, the connection of the license plate to the fixture have to be such that it is virtually impossible to remove the 20 license plate, or removing it leads to damage to the license plate or to other safety features so that re-use of the dismounted license plate is impossible or can be clearly perceived visually. The measures which have been taken hitherto to meet the abovementioned conditions in motor vehicle license plate arrangements composed of a fixture and a license plate are either very complicated or inadequate.

2 Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle license plate arrangement having a license plate and a fixture which supports it, wherein the fixture has at least one projection, the license plate is provided with at least one breakthrough, corresponding to the respective projection, for the projection, and the projection and an edge area, surrounding the latter, of the breakthrough are provided with a sticker. In at least a preferred embodiment, the sticker connects the fixture to the license plate with the aid of the projection. If the license plate is removed from the fixture after the sticker has been applied to the projection and to the edge region, surrounding the breakthrough, of the license plate, the sticker is destroyed. If the license plate is applied to another vehicle, the destruction of the sticker becomes clearly apparent. Because the sticker is usually allocated by an authorized office, in particular an authority, when the vehicle to which the motor vehicle license plate arrangement belongs is registered, it is not possible to obtain a replacement if the motor vehicle license plate is attached to another vehicle without authorization. For this reason, the motor vehicle license plate arrangement can be attached to another vehicle in an inconspicuous way.

3 The sticker is preferably embodied in such a way that it can only be detached in parts from the projection, and the edge region, surrounding said projection around the breakthrough in the license plate in parts. This means that after the license plate has been detached from the associated motor vehicle and attached to another motor vehicle without s authorization, only part of the sticker can be seen and as a result the unauthorized refitting of the license plate is clearly apparent. In at least a preferred embodiment, there is provision that an upper side, of planar design, of the projection of the fixture terminates approximately flush with the visible front side of the license plate. In this way, a planar, and as it were continuous, surface is 1o provided for the attachment of the sticker. The sticker covers, as it were, the projection of the fixture which projects into the breakthrough in the license plate. As a result, anyone who wishes to remove the license plate does not easily realize that in doing so he is making the motor vehicle license plate arrangement unsuitable for use elsewhere. Furthermore, it is visually attractive if the sticker is located on a flat area on the motor is vehicle license plate arrangement. Preferably, the sticker is also designed in such a way that it can be detached without visible damage or destruction either of the upper side of the projection or of the edge region, surrounding the projection, of the recess in the license plate. This property of the sticker is referred to for short as "nondetachable" below. This is not intended to 20 have the restrictive meaning that the sticker is actually nondetachable. The decisive factor is that if it can be detached it is partially or entirely torn apart or destroyed.

4 Preferably, the at least one projection on the front side of the fixture is an integral component of the fixture by virtue of the fact that it is either integrally formed onto the fixture or embodied as a separate part but permanently connected to the fixture by, for example, riveting, welding, bonding or nondetachable latching. This prevents the s possibility of the license plate being disconnected from the fixture together with the projection and a sticker which is therefore undestroyed, which would permit imperceptible refitting of the license plate. In at least a preferred embodiment, there is provision for the license plate to be nondetachably connected to the fixture in a positively locking fashion. This 10 nondetachable, positively locking connection can be brought about in various ways, preferably by one or more pin-like connecting means which are plugged through a bore which passes through the license plate and are nondetachably fastened to the fixture. This fastening can be done by latching, riveting, bonding or else welding. This results in the license plate being additionally secured to the fixture. The pins or other pin-like 15 connecting means would have to be broken off or removed from their bores in order to disconnect the license plate from the fixture. This is time-consuming and can only be done with an appropriate tool, which additionally prevents unauthorized persons from removing the license plate from the motor vehicle. Furthermore, if the license plate is removed from the fixture in such a violent way, there is the risk of the license plate being 20 destroyed so that it cannot be reused after removal.

5 In at least a preferred embodiment, there is provision for at least one electronic identification means to be assigned to the fixture, if appropriate also to the license plate. This electronic identification mean is preferably embodied in the manner of a transponder, that is to say it has a data memory and a transmitter. The data which is s stored in the electronic identification means, specifically either all the data or only selected data which are matched to the motor vehicle for which the motor vehicle license plate arrangement is provided, can be collected by a receiver. This makes it possible, for example, to determine the location of the motor vehicle to which the motor vehicle license plate arrangement belongs. 10 The electronic identification means is preferably arranged in a housing which is closed and preferably cannot be opened. The housing surrounds the identification means completely and as a result protects it against external mechanical influences and manipulation. With the housing, the electronic identification means is arranged in a corresponding depression in the fixture. The fixture as a result forms a receiving space 15 for the single identification means or else, if appropriate, for a plurality of identification means. The license plate can serve here to cover the electronic identification means. It is also conceivable for the depression to be arranged in a region of the front side of the mount which is kept free of the number plate. The housing of the electronic identification means is then kept free of the number plate. This region which is kept free makes it 20 possible to provide a sticker which covers the upper side of the housing and an edge region, surrounding the latter, of the depression on the front side of the fixture. As a result, the electronic identification means cannot be disconnected from the fixture, or can only be disconnected from the fixture by destroying the sticker. It would then not be possible to re-use such a fixture.

6 In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle license plate arrangement having a license plate and a fixture which supports it, wherein the fixture is of multi-part design in that the fixture is formed at least from a lower fixture part and an upper fixture part connected thereto. s In at least a preferred embodiment, if appropriate, a frame can also be provided in front of the upper fixture part. The multi-part fixture makes it possible easily to connect in a nondetachable fashion at least one projection and/or at least one electronic identification means to the fixture. The at least one electronic identification means and/or the at least one projection can be arranged or fastened to one another in a positively 10 locking fashion between the upper fixture part and the lower fixture part. The nondetachable connection of the upper fixture part to the lower fixture part which is necessary can be effected easily because both have relatively large surfaces. The upper fixture part and the lower fixture part can, for example, be bonded or else welded over a large surface. It is also conceivable to connect both parts of the fixture in a nondetachable 15 fashion by latching pins or rivets. In a motor vehicle license plate arrangement whose fixture has a projection, the projection is preferably provided on the lower fixture part. The projection then extends through a corresponding recess in the upper fixture part. The projection is preferably embodied in such a way that it also extends through a corresponding recess or a 20 breakthrough in the license plate so that the projection engages through the entire upper fixture part starting from the lower fixture part and also projects into the recess in the license plate. As a result, a sticker can be applied to the front side of the license plate, said sticker covering the flat upper side of the projection and an edge region, surrounding said projection, of the recess of the license plate and being permanently connected, by 25 bonding tight, to the edge region of the license plate and the upper side of the projection.

7 Preferably, the projection can be secured in a positively locking fashion between the upper part of the plate and the lower part of the plate. However, it is also conceivable that the projection is formed integrally onto the lower fixture part or that the projection is nondetachably connected to the lower fixture part by bonding, welding, riveting or latching. This reliably ensures a nondetachable connection of the projection to the lower fixture part. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to assign the projection to the upper fixture part in a nondetachable fashion. Preferably, at least one electronic identification means is assigned to the fixture, the license plate has a breakthrough into which the electronic identification means partially projects, and the electronic identification means and an edge region, surrounding the breakthrough, of the license plate and/or of the fixture are covered by a sticker. In at least a preferred embodiment, the license plate cannot be removed alone from the motor vehicle because the sticker would be destroyed in the process, and this would be visible if the license plate were used in some other way. The license plate could be removed from the motor vehicle with an intact sticker together with the electronic identification means. If the license plate is then used together with the electronic identification means in another motor vehicle, this would become apparent because the data would no longer match the motor vehicle since the latter is provided with the incorrect motor vehicle license plate arrangement.

8 The at least one electronic identification means is preferably arranged in a housing. The housing protects the electronic identification means from external influences and manipulation. The housing preferably has an upper side which is at least partially planar and engages in a corresponding breakthrough in the license plate. In this 5 arrangement, the housing is dimensioned in such a way that the upper side which is more planar terminates approximately flush with a front side of the license plate. As a result, the sticker can be bonded onto a flat surface on the upper side of the housing for the electronic identification means and onto the edge region, surrounding the housing, of the breakthrough of the license plate. 10 Preferably, the housing for receiving the at least one electronic identification means is arranged in a recess in the fixture. In this arrangement, the housing can be arranged engaging in a positively locking fashion in the recess from the rear of the fixture. However, it is also conceivable to insert the housing into a recess which is open only on the front side of the fixture which points toward the license plate and to attach it i5 permanently in said recess by bonding, casting, welding tight, latching and/or riveting. In this way, the housing with the electronic identification means and the fixture of the motor vehicle license plate arrangement form one unit. As a result, the license plate can be disconnected from the fixture only by destroying the sticker; however, it is not possible to remove the license plate together with the housing of the electronic identification means 20 as a whole from the fixture without destroying the sticker, or to disconnect the housing from the fixture.

9 Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a front view of the motor vehicle license plate arrangement 5 according to a first exemplary embodiment; Fig. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the parts of the motor vehicle license plate arrangement in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a front view of a motor vehicle license plate arrangement according to a second exemplary embodiment; To Fig. 4 shows a perspective exploded view of the individual parts of the motor vehicle license plate arrangement in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a perspective illustration of the front side of a motor vehicle license plate arrangement according to a third exemplary embodiment; Fig. 6 shows an exploded-type perspective illustration of the individual parts of is the motor vehicle license plate arrangement in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle license plate arrangement in a front view; and Fig. 8 shows a cross section VIII-VIII through the motor vehicle license plate arrangement in Fig. 7. 20 Detailed Description The exemplary embodiments of the motor vehicle license plate arrangement which are shown are those which are composed of a license plate and a fixture. The license plate is permanently connected to the fixture. The - 10 motor vehicle license plate arrangements are embodied in such a way that they are considered to be "theftproof". 5 The motor vehicle license plate arrangement shown in figs. 1 and 2 has a license plate 10 and a multi-part fixture 11. The fixture 11 supports the license plate 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the fixture 11 is of two-part design, and is specifically composed 10 of a lower fixture part 12 and an upper fixture part 13. The license plate 10 is attached to the front side 15 of the upper fixture part 13. The lower fixture part 12 has on its upper side, 15 bearing against the lower side of the upper fixture part 13, a projection 17 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, has a triangular face. However, the projection 17 can, however, have any other desired faces, for example it can be round, quadrilateral or 20 oval. The projection 17 is nondetachably connected to the lower fixture part 12. For this purpose, the projection 17 can be integrally formed onto the lower fixture part 12. However, it is also possible to attach the projection 17 nondetachably on the front side of 25 the lower fixture part 12 by bonding, welding, latching or screwing. The lower fixture part 12 is nondetachably connected to the vehicle to which the motor vehicle license plate arrangement belongs. For example, the lower fixture part 12 is connected from the inside of 30 the vehicle to a vehicle body part or from the bumper to the motor vehicle through screws which are inaccessible after mounting. As a result, the lower fixture part 12 cannot be illegitimately removed from the motor vehicle without the motor vehicle having to 35 be opened or parts thereof removed for that purpose. The upper fixture part 13 has a breakthrough 18 which has a base face which is embodied so that it corresponds to the base face of the projection 17, that - 11 is to say is also triangular in the exemplary embodiment shown. In the license plate 10, too, a breakthrough 19 which is triangular here and which corresponds to the projection 17 is arranged. The 5 breakthrough 19 is positioned in such a way that in the exemplary embodiment shown it is located near to the upper (longer) transverse edge in the center of the license plate 10. Depending on the type of motor vehicle license plate arrangement, the breakthrough 19 10 can, however, be located at a different location on the license plate 10. The height of the projection 17 is dimensioned such that extends through the breakthrough 18 in the upper fixture part 13 and the breakthrough 19 in the license plate 10, with a planar upper side 20 of 15 the projection 17 terminating approximately flush with a visible front side 21 of the license plate 10. The upper side 20 of the projection 17 therefore closes the breakthrough 19 in the license plate 10 and forms part of the front side 21 of the license plate 10 in the 20 region of the breakthrough 19. In the region of the projection 17, a sticker 22 is arranged on the front side 21 of the license plate 10. In the motor vehicle license plate arrangement shown 25 here, the sticker 22 has, like the projection 17, a triangular shape. The surface of the sticker 22 is, however, somewhat larger than the triangular surface of the projection 17. In this way, the sticker 22 covers the entire triangular upper side 20 of the projection 30 17 and part of the front side 21 of the license plate 10, specifically a peripheral edge region thereof which surrounds the breakthrough 19 in the license plate 10. As a result the sticker 22 forms a connection between the license plate 10 and the sticker 11, specifically 35 the projection 17 which is nondisconnectably connected thereto. The sticker 22 is embodied in such a way that, if it can be removed at all, it cannot be removed from the license plate 10 and the projection 17 without being destroyed. When it is removed in this way, the - 12 sticker 22 is either cut in two or it fragments. For this purpose, the sticker 22 is preferably formed from a multi-layer laminate film which delaminates when an attempt is made to disconnect the sticker 22 and it is 5 destroyed in the process. Such a sticker 22 is considered to be virtually "nondetachable". If a nondetachable sticker 22 is mentioned in the following, a sticker 22 is meant which can be disconnected entirely or partially but is destroyed in the process 10 so that re-use is impossible. The license plate 10 has small through-bores 23 (eight through-bores 23 in the exemplary embodiment shown) . Corresponding blind bores or through-bores are arranged 15 in the upper fixture part 13. Latching pins 24, which latch tightly into the bores of the upper fixture part 13, are plugged through the through-bores 23 of the license plate 10. The latching pins 24 bear with an upper head 25 against the visible front side 21 of the 20 license plate 10. A thin, needle-like filling body 26 is plugged into the latching pins 24, which are of hollow design on the inside, after the license plate 10 has been latched tight onto the upper fixture part 13. Said filling body 26 fills the internal cavity in the 25 latching pin 24 and causes the latching pins 24 to be anchored in a nondetachable, positively locking fashion in the upper fixture part 13. In addition, the filling bodies 26 can be bonded into the latching pins 24. Owing to the latching pins 24 and the filling bodies 26 30 which are plugged therein, a connection between the license plate 10 and the fixture 11, specifically the upper fixture part 13, is formed which is, as it were, nondetachable. Owing to this connection, the license plate 10 can be disconnected from the fixture 11 only 35 with a large degree of effort by destroying the latching pins 24, which generally also causes the license plate 10 to be destroyed, as a result of which it becomes unusable for a connection elsewhere.

- 13 The fixture 11 which is shown has on one side (on the left-hand side in figs. 1 and 2) next to the license plate 10 a side face 27 which is not covered by said license plate. The side face 27 has a recess 28 which 5 is arranged approximately in the center thereof and proceeds from the front side 15, pointing to the license plate 10, of the upper fixture part 13 and has a depth which is less than the thickness of the upper fixture part 13. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the 10 recess 28 has a rectangular base face. The recess 28 can, however, have any other desired base faces. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement shown here has an electronic identification means 29 which is, for 15 example, a type of transponder. For this purpose, the identification means 29 has a data memory, a transmitter and an antenna. The data memory is preferably embodied as a read-only memory so that the data which is stored therein cannot be changed. 20 However, it would be conceivable to store some data items in the data memory in such a way that they can be changed. The electronic components of the identification means 29 are preferably accommodated in a housing 30, preferably together with a battery which 25 may be necessary. The housing 30 is completely enclosed and embodied in such a way that it cannot be opened. All the electronic components (including a possible battery) of the identification means 29 are accommodated in the housing 30. The housing 30 is 30 dimensioned in such a way that it is received in the recess 28 on the front side 15 of the upper fixture part 13 in a positively locking fashion, in particular it at least virtually completely fills the recess 28. A visible, planar upper side 31 of the housing 30 35 terminates flush here with the front side 15, left free of the license plate 10, of the side face 27 of the upper fixture part 13. The upper side 31 of the housing 30 of the electronic identification means 29 and an edge, surrounding the latter, of the recess 28 in the - 14 upper housing part 13 are covered by a further sticker 32 (only indicated in fig. 1). In this way, the sticker 32 connects the housing 30 of the electronic identification means 29 to a part of the upper fixture 5 part 13. This connection is also not detachable by virtue of the fact that the sticker 32 has the same properties as those with which the sticker 22 is provided. Reference is made to the embodiments in this regard. 10 The housing 30 of the electronic identification means 29 can be arranged in a latching fashion in the recess 28 of the upper fixture part 13. It is also conceivable to bond or cast the housing 30 into the recess 28. 15 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the rear of the housing 30 is provided with a latching projection (not shown in the figures). Said latching projection projects through the upper fixture part 13 into a 20 corresponding bore in the lower fixture part 12. In this way, not only is the housing 30 of the electronic identification means 29 nondetachably connected to the upper fixture part 13, at the same time a nondetachable connection is produced between the lower fixture part 25 12 and the upper fixture part 13 due to the fixed latching projection under the housing 30. The housing 30 serves as it were as the head of the latching projection. 30 A second latching connector 34 is provided on the side of the fixture 11 located opposite the electronic identification means 29. This latching connector 34 is covered by the license plate 10. The latching connector 34 lies with its head 35 in a recess 36 of the upper 35 fixture part 13. The latching projection, lying under the head 35, of the latching connector 34 engages in a corresponding bore 37, preferably a through-bore, in the lower fixture part 12. As a result of the latching connector 34, a nondetachable connection is formed - 15 between the upper fixture part 13 and the lower fixture part 12. This connection is nondetachable in particular because the latching connector 34 is anchored in the positively engaging fashion in the rear side of the 5 lower fixture part 12, like the latching projection under the housing 30 of the electronic identification means 29, and this rear side is no longer accessible after the motor vehicle license plate arrangement according to the invention has been mounted, because of 10 the permanently nondetachable attachment of the lower fixture part 12 to the motor vehicle. Figs. 3 and 4 show a motor vehicle license plate arrangement with a license plate 38 and a three-part 15 fixture 39 which supports it. The fixture 39 has, like the previously described fixture 11, a lower fixture part 40 and an upper fixture part 41. Furthermore, the fixture 39 also has a frame 42. The frame 42 is attached in front of the upper fixture part 41, and 20 this attachment here can be effected in any desired way because it does not have to be nondetachable. The frame 42 has a free face 43 which corresponds to the rectangular face of the license plate 38, and is specifically somewhat larger. As a result, that part of 25 the frame 42 which surrounds the free face 43 frames the license plate 38. Like the motor vehicle license plate arrangement in figs. 1 and 2, the lower fixture part 40 is 30 nondetachably connected by means of screws, rivets or other connections to the vehicle, for example the vehicle bodywork, a bumper or the like. This connection is effective from the rear side of the lower fixture part 40 from the inside of the motor vehicle or, for 35 example, when the bumper has been removed. When the motor vehicle is locked and the bumper is mounted, the rear side of the lower fixture part 40 is therefore no longer accessible, with the result that it cannot be - 16 detached from the motor vehicle, at any rate can no longer be detached by unauthorized persons. The license plate 38 is, like the license plate 10, 5 nondetachably connected to the front side 44 of the upper fixture part 41 by means of latching pins (not shown). The fixture 39 is much wider than the license plate 38, 10 as a result of which, in addition to the license plate 38, the fixture 39 has a side face 45 which is not covered by the license plate 38. In the motor vehicle license plate arrangement shown, an electronic identification means 46 is disposed in the region of 15 the side face 45. Said electronic identification means 46 can be constructed in the same way as the identification means 29 so that reference is made to the description thereof in conjunction with the exemplary embodiment in figs. 1 and 2. The electrical 20 identification means 46 is arranged in a closed housing 47 which cannot be opened. The housing 47 is accommodated, with the identification means 46, in a recess 48 which starts from the front side 44 of the upper fixture part 41. The recess 48 is designed to 25 correspond to the housing 47, specifically in such a way that a planar upper side 49 of the housing 47 terminates approximately flush with the front side 44 of the upper fixture part 41. The frame 42 has a second, smaller free face 50 which frames the side face 30 45 of the upper fixture part 41 and as a result also surrounds the housing 47 for receiving the electronic identification means 46. In view of this it is also conceivable to construct the housing 47 in such a way that it protrudes with respect to the front side 44 of 35 the upper fixture part 41, like the license plate 38, so that the upper side 49 of the housing 47 no longer terminates flush with the front side 44 of the upper fixture part 41.

- 17 The edges which surround the housing 47 of the electronic identification means 46 are stepped, specifically in such a way that the housing 47 can be inserted in a latching fashion from above in the recess 5 48. Alternatively, if there is a continuous recess 48, the housing 47 can be inserted with the stepped edges from behind into the recess 48 so that the housing 47 is embedded in a positively locking fashion with the electronic identification means 46 between the upper 10 fixture part 41 and the lower fixture part 40 which are nondetachably connected to one another. In the exemplary embodiment shown, in which the housing 47 is inserted into a noncontinuous recess 48 in the 15 upper fixture part 41, the housing 47 has, on the rear, a latching projection which is embodied in the same way as the latching projection of the previously described motor vehicle license plate arrangement and is used for the positively locking, latching connection of the 20 housing 47 and of the lower fixture part 40 to the upper fixture part 41, in which case the housing 47 forms, as it were, the head of the latching projection. A separate latching connector, which is embodied in the same way as the latching connector 34, is provided 25 under the license plate 38 on that side of the fixture 39 which is located opposite the housing 47 for the electronic identification means 46. The latching connector brings about a second latching, and therefore positively locking, connection of the lower fixture 30 part 40 to the upper fixture part 41. On the upper side 49 of the housing 47 for the electronic identification means 46, a sticker 53 is applied. The sticker 53 extends only in the region of 35 the upper side 49 of the housing 47, and is preferably somewhat smaller. Alternatively it is also conceivable to print the upper side of the housing 47. However, it is also conceivable to construct the sticker 53 in the same way as the sticker 32 of the motor vehicle license - 18 plate arrangement in figs. 1 and 2, so that said sticker 53 covers an edge region, surrounding the recess 48 in the upper fixture part 41, of front side 44 of the upper fixture part 41 and as a result the 5 sticker forms a type of seal connection between the upper fixture part 41 and the housing 47, as is also the case with the sticker 32. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement shown in 10 figs. 3 and 4 has a projection 54 which protrudes upward with respect to the lower fixture part 40 and extends through a breakthrough 55 in the upper fixture part 41 and a breakthrough 56 in the license plate 38. The upper side of the projection 54 and an edge region 15 thereof which surrounds the breakthrough 55 in the license plate 38 are covered by a sticker 57. The projection 54 and the sticker 57 have the same functions as the sticker 22 of the motor vehicle license plate arrangement according to the exemplary 20 embodiment in figs. 1 and 2. The only difference from this exemplary embodiment is that the projection 54 is provided with an oval base face. A modification of the motor vehicle license plate 25 arrangement shown in figs. 3 and 4 is conceivable in which said motor vehicle license plate arrangement does not have a projection, and therefore also no breakthroughs 55 and 56 and no sticker 57. 30 Figs. 5 and 6 show a third exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle license plate arrangement. This motor vehicle license plate arrangement has a license plate 58 and a single-part fixture 59. The license plate 58 is nondetachably attached in front of the fixture 59 35 with latching pins 60 which are embodied in the same way as the latching pins 24. The latching connections are made nondetachable by means of cylindrical filling bodies 61 in the interior cavity of the respective latching pin 60. The latching pins 60 bear with a head - 19 62 on the front side 63 of the license plate 58. The positively locking latching of the latching pins 60 occurs in the interior of the single-layer fixture 59. 5 The fixture 59 is provided with a projection 64 on its front side pointing to the license plate 58. The projection 64 is either integrally formed on the base plate of the fixture 59 or is nondetachably connected to this baseplate by bonding, welding, screwing and/or 10 riveting. The projection 64 which is shown has, like the projection 17, a triangular base face. The projection 64 can, however, also have any other desired base 15 faces. A triangular breakthrough 65, which corresponds to the base face of the projection 64, is arranged on the license plate 58. The breakthrough 65 is located near to the upper longitudinal edge of the license plate 58, specifically in the center thereof. 20 When the license plate 58 is connected to the fixture 59, the projection 64 extends through the breakthrough 65. The projection 64 is dimensioned here in such a way that its planar triangular upper side 66 terminates flush with the visible front face 25 of the license plate 58. As in the first exemplary embodiment, a sticker 67 is assigned to the projection 64. The sticker 67 is larger than the face of the projection 64, so that the sticker 30 67 also partially overlaps the license plate 58. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sticker 67 also has an approximately triangular shape, with a peripheral edge of the sticker 67 which protrudes with respect to the projection 64 covering an edge region, surrounding the 35 breakthrough 65, of the license plate 58. In this way, the sticker 67 connects the license plate 58 to the upper side 66 of the projection 64 and as a result also to the fixture 59.

- 20 The sticker 67 is, as described above in relation to the sticker 22, formed from a single-layer or preferably multilayer film which is destroyed if an attempt is made to remove the sticker 67 from the 5 license plate 58 and/or the projection 64 in that it tears, for example. The same applies if an attempt is made to remove the license plate 58 from the fixture 59. Accordingly, the license plate 58 is also nondetachably connected to the fixture 59 on the motor 10 vehicle license plate arrangement which is shown here. By all events, the sticker 67 cannot be re-used if the license plate 58 is violently removed from the fixture 59. 15 The single-layer or single-part fixture 59 which is shown in figs. 5 and 6 does not have an electronic identification means. It is also conceivable to assign an electronic identification means to this single-layer fixture 59 if necessary, which identification means can 20 be embodied in the same way as the electronic identification means 29 or 46 described in relation to the above exemplary embodiments of the invention. Finally, figs. 7 and 8 show a motor vehicle license 25 plate arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention in which a license plate 68 is also nondetachably connected to a single-layer fixture 69. This is in turn done by means of a plurality of latching pins 70 which are embodied in the 30 same way as the latching pins 24 and also have a head and a filling body. In terms of the specific embodiment of the latching pins 70, reference is made to the latching pins 24 of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. 35 The motor vehicle license plate arrangement in Figures 7 and 8 has an electronic identification means 71. This too can operate as, and be constructed in the form of, a transponder. For the details of the identification - 21 means 71, reference should be made to the description of the identification means 29 of the motor vehicle license plate arrangement according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. 5 The electronic identification means 71 is also arranged in a completely enclosed housing 72 by which the electronic identification means 71 is hermetically surrounded and which cannot be opened. A breakthrough 10 73, which is designed to correspond to the housing 72 with a rectangular base face, is located in the fixture 69. The breakthrough 73 is stepped, specifically with a partial or surrounding widened portion which starts from the rear side of the fixture 69 which is located 15 opposite the license plate 78. The housing 72 for receiving the electronic identification means 71 has a collar 74 which is designed to correspond to the widened portion in the breakthrough 73. As a result, the housing 72 can be pushed into the fixture 69 from 20 the rear, wherein the housing 72 is secured in a positively locking fashion against pulling out in the direction of the front side of the fixture 69. The housing 72 with the electronic identification means 71 is inserted into the breakthrough 73 of the fixture 69 25 before the fixture 69 is permanently and nondetachably connected to the vehicle. In this way, the housing 72 for receiving the electronic identification means 71 is attached, in a positively locking and non-removable fashion between the fixture 69 and the part of the 30 bodywork which supports said fixture 69, or the bumper of the motor vehicle. The housing 72 is dimensioned in terms of its height in such a way that a planar upper side 75 thereof 35 terminates approximately flush with a visible front side of the license plate 68 (fig. 8). A sticker 76 is in turn arranged on the upper side 75 of the housing 72, which sticker 76 overlaps an edge region of the license plate 68, which surrounds the breakthrough 73 - 22 in the license plate 68 (fig. 8) . Due to this overlap, a nondetachable connection of the housing 72 to the license plate 68 is formed, as is also the case in the previously described exemplary embodiments of the 5 invention. For this purpose, the sticker 76 is permanently bonded onto the upper side 75 of the housing 72 in order to receive the electronic identification means 71, and onto the edge region, surrounding the breakthrough 73, of the license plate 10 68. This bonded connection is effected in such a way that the sticker 76 cannot be disconnected from the license plate 68 and the housing 72 for the electronic identification means 71 without said sticker 76 being destroyed. For this purpose, the sticker 76 is embodied 15 in the same way as has been explained in relation to the stickers of the previously described exemplary embodiments of the invention. The fixtures of all the previously described exemplary 20 embodiments of the motor vehicle license plate arrangements according to the invention are preferably completely formed from plastic. The same applies to the projections and the housings for receiving the electronic identification means. The license plates of 25 the motor vehicle license plate arrangements according to the invention can be formed from all currently used materials, that is to say sheet steel, sheet aluminum, plastic panels or even single- or multilayer films. 30 The visual characteristics of the license plates which have been referred to merely as "samples" in all the exemplary embodiments for the purpose of explanation are manufactured in the customary way, specifically, for example, by stamping, bonding, riveting on or 35 printing on. It is also possible for a film with corresponding lettering to be bonded on to a planar carrier made of sheet metal, aluminum or plastic. The film then at the same time also forms the stickers of the previously described exemplary embodiments of the - 23 motor vehicle license plate arrangements according to the invention, which stickers then extend over the entire surface of the license plate but also cannot be detached therefrom without destroying them. 5 TNJ-55-WO 23 July 2007/7119 - 24 List of reference numerals 10 License plate 47 Housing 11 Fixture 48 Recess 12 Lower fixture part 49 Upper side 13 Upper fixture part 50 Free face 15 Front side 53 Sticker 17 Projection 54 Projection 18 Breakthrough 55 Breakthrough 19 Breakthrough 56 Breakthrough 20 Upper side 57 Sticker 21 Front side 58 License plate 22 Sticker 59 Fixture 23 Through-bore 60 Latching pin 24 Latching pin 61 Filling body 25 Head 62 Head 26 Filling body 63 Front side 27 Side face 64 Projection 28 Recess 65 Breakthrough 29 Identification means 66 Upper side 30 Housing 67 Sticker 31 Upper side 68 License plate 32 Sticker 69 Fixture 34 Latching connector 70 Latching pin 35 Head 71 Identification means 36 Recess 72 Housing 37 Bore 73 Breakthrough 38 License plate 74 Collar 39 Fixture 75 Upper side 40 Lower fixture part 76 Sticker 41 Upper fixture part 42 Frame 43 Free face 44 Front side 45 Side face 46 Identification means

Claims

1. A motor vehicle license plate arrangement having a license plate and a fixture which supports it, wherein the fixture has at least one projection, the license plate is provided with at least one breakthrough, corresponding to the respective projection, for the projection, and the projection and an edge area, surrounding the latter, of the breakthrough are provided with a sticker.

2. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sticker is embodied in such a way that it can only be detached in parts from the projection of the fixture and the edge region, surrounding said projection, around the breakthrough in the license plate.

3. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein an upper side, of planar design, of the projection terminates approximately flush with the visible front side of the license plate.

4. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner region of the sticker is nondetachably bonded onto the planar upper side of the projection.

5. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective projection is an integral component of the fixture.

6. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the license plate is integrally connected to the fixture in a nondetachable fashion.

7. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the license plate is integrally connected to the fixture by a plurality of pin-like attachment means which are each plugged through a bore in the license plate and anchored in the respective fixture in a positively locking fashion. 26

8. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electronic identification means is assigned to the fixture.

9. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electronic identification means is nondetachably connected to the fixture.

10. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the electronic identification means is arranged in a housing.

11. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the housing is arranged in a corresponding depression in the front side of the fixture.

12. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective depression for the housing of the electrical identification means is arranged in the region of the front side of the fixture which is kept free in a license plate.

13. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper side of the housing of the electronic identification means terminates approximately flush with the front side of the fixture.

14. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper side of the housing and an edge region, surrounding the depression for the housing, of the front side of the fixture are covered by a sticker.

15. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sticker is nondetachably connected to the upper side of the housing and the edge region, surrounding said housing of the fixture.

16. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixture is of multi-part design in that the fixture is formed at least from a lower fixture part and an upper fixture part connected thereto. 27

17. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower fixture part and the upper fixture part are connected to one another in a nondetachable fashion.

18. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower fixture part and the upper fixture part are nondetachably connected in a positively locking fashion by a plurality of pin-like connecting means.

19. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin-like connecting means are made to pass through the upper fixture part and are connected in the lower fixture part in a latching fashion.

20. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic identification means is assigned to the upper fixture part.

21. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the electronic identification means is accommodated in a corresponding depression in the upper fixture part.

22. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic identification means is connected in a positively locking fashion to the depression in the upper fixture part of the pin-shaped connecting means in order to connect the upper fixture part to the lower fixture part.

23. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one projection is provided on the lower fixture part which extends through a corresponding cutout in the upper fixture part into a corresponding breakthrough in the license plate.

24. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in claim 23, wherein the projection and an edge area, surrounding the breakthrough, of the license plate are covered by a sticker. 28

25. A motor vehicle license plate arrangement having a license plate and a fixture which supports it, wherein at least one electronic identification means is assigned to the fixture, the license plate has a breakthrough into which the electronic identification means partially projects, and the electronic identification means and an edge region, surrounding the breakthrough, of the license plate and/or of the fixture are covered by a sticker.

26. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic identification means is arranged in a housing which has, at least to a certain extent, a planar upper side which is designed so as to correspond to the breakthrough in the license plate and terminates approximately flush with a front side of the license plate.

27. The motor vehicle license plate arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing for receiving the at least one electronic identification means is arranged in a recess in the fixture and is nondetachably connected to the fixture. Dated 19 January, 2012 J.H. Tonnjes E.A.S.T. GmbH & Co. KG Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON