GB2326151A

GB2326151A - Mounting means or holder for a vehicle licence or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2326151A
Application number: GB9812470A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Parmjit Singh Gill
Original assignee: WARWICKSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY
Current assignee: WARWICKSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY
Priority date: 1997-06-11
Filing date: 1998-06-11
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-11
Also published as: GB9812470D0; GB2326151B; GB9712009D0

Abstract

The mounting means for a vehicle licence (L) basically comprises a transparent retaining piece or strip (3) which is adhesively treated on both sides for adhesive application over the essential part or date area (D) of the licence (L) and also to a vehicle windscreen (W) or other display surface to which the licence (L) is applied. On an attempt being made to remove the licence (L) its adhesion to the windscreen is such that its date area (D) is torn or defaced thus rendering the licence useless. The retaining piece (3) is preferably used in conjunction with a holder backing sheet (2) which adhesively or locatingly receives the licence (D) and is applied with the licence (D) and retaining piece (3) to the windscreen (W). The front face of the backing sheet (2) is affixed to the windscreen (W) by adhesive or suction adhesion. The transparent retaining piece may be colour tinted to indicate its presence. At least one initially protectively masked retaining piece (3) and a protectively masked backing sheet (2) can be supplied ready for use.

Description

MOUNTING MEANS OR HOLDER FOR A VEHICLE LICENCE OR THE LIKE This invention refers primarily to the mounting of a vehicle licence usually against the inner face of a vehicle windscreen or other display surface. In the case of windscreen display the invention relates in particular to a licence holder in the form of a plastic backing sheet which receives a licence of disc or other shape, the backing sheet being adhesively applied to the windscreen about the licence. Such adhesive application is usually by suction adhesion so that the backing sheet is removable for replacement of an expired licence.

Owing to the considerable increasing cost of motor vehicle licences, their theft for unauthorised use is now widely prevalent and the object of this invention is to provide an anti-theft mounting or holder of simple and inexpensive form whereby theft is deterred and in particular attempted theft is foiled. This and other practical advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

Vehicle excise licences as issued in the United Kingdom are usually of paper or thin card disc form but the mounting means or holder according to this invention is applicable to licences or like documents (e.g. permits) of other shapes and for various purposes.

According to the invention a licence or like mounting means or holder comprises a retaining piece of transparent sheet material which is adhesively treated on both sides and is adapted for adhesive application by one side over at least essential matter on a licence or the like such as the expiry date, and wherein the other side of said retaining piece is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the inner face ofa vehicle windscreen or other display surface whereby on an attempt to remove the licence or the like its adhesion to the retaining piece adhering to the windscreen or other display surface tears away or defaces at least the essential matter or date of the licence or the like thus rendering it useless.

The retaining piece of sheet material is preferably provided for use in conjunction with a holder backing sheet which receives the licence thereon for application of the licence with the retaining piece affixed thereto to the inner face of a windscreen or other display surface.

At least one protectively masked retaining piece and a backing sheet may be initially affixed to a carrier sheet which may be foldable for convenient supply or sale of the licence or like holder in wallet pack or kit form. Alternatively a backing sheet initially masked on its front side and one or more retaining pieces initially masked on both sides may be supplied e.g. in a sales display envelope or similar packaging.

In practical examples of the invention as a vehicle licence holder reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a plan view and edge view of the licence holder parts as initially provided on a carrier sheet; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the licence holder in position of use on a windscreen; Figure 4 is a detail face view of a licence disc to which the retaining piece has been applied; Figure 5 and 6 are a front view and edge view of an alternative form of backing sheet; Figure 7 is a front view of another form of backing sheet on a reduced scale; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a double masked retaining piece.

Like parts are referred to by the same or similar reference numerals or letters throughout the drawings whilst material thicknesses have been exaggerated for clarity.

One arrangement of the licence holder is now referred to and a simplified form is later described.

Thus in Figure 1, a carrier sheet 1 of suitable smooth plastic sheet material receives a flexible backing sheet 2 of the holder such that the application side of the backing sheet is protectively applied against the carrier sheet 1.

Also received by the carrier sheet 1 is a basic retaining piece or strip 3 of transparent plastic sheet material or tape which is adhesively coated on both sides. One side of the piece 3 is protectively applied against the carrier sheet 1 and the other or outer side receives a removable protective masking strip 4.

Thus all adhesive surfaces are protected on the carrier sheet 1 and the latter may be folded at 10 to provide a compact pack for storage, supply or retail purposes. A sales display suspension slot may be provided in the carrier sheet 1.

For using the holder the flexible backing sheet 2 is peeled from the carrier sheet 1 to reveal the application side ofthe backing sheet 2 which sheet may have at least a central adhesively coated area 21 to which the back of a licence disc L is affixed. Alternatively the central area 21 may be recessed to locatingly accommodate the disc L.

The backing sheet 2 is of larger size than the central area 21 and licence disc L all round the periphery of the latter and the outer area 23 of the backing sheet 2 may be also adhesively coated for affixing to the inner face of a windscreen W or preferably is of a smooth finish for removable suction adhesion to the windscreen W. Flexibility of the backing sheet 2 accommodates windscreen curvature.

Prior to applying the backing sheet 2 and licence L to the windscreen W the retaining strip 3 is peeled off the carrier sheet and the revealed adhesive side is affixed over the date area D of the licence L after which the masking strip 4 is removed to expose the other adhesive side of the retaining strip 3 which faces forwardly from the front of the licence disc L.

With the licence disc L in position on or in the backing sheet 2 the latter is applied to the windscreen W and at the same time the forwardly facing side of the retaining strip 3 is pressed against the windscreen for firm adhesion to it. The above procedure can be simply and quickly carried out.

On an attempt being made to remove the licence disc L i.e., after removal or partial removal of the backing sheet 2, the adhesion of the disc to the retaining strip 3 is such that the disc is torn or defaced at the date area and thus becomes useless or at least clearly indicates that removal has been attempted.

The retaining strip may be smaller than that shown in Figure 4 and of a size which covers the bold month and year section but not the small date figures directly below. This ensures that if the licence is removed legitimately for a refund there is sufficient information left for this purpose.

The adhesive coating on both sides of the retaining strip 3 should be sufficient for the above purpose but not too difficult to remove from the windscreen when it becomes necessary to replace an expired licence by the above described procedure.

Owing to its low cost the holder can be used on a throwaway basis, a new holder being employed on licence replacement. However, where the backing sheet 2 is applied to the windscreen W by suction adhesion it is re-usable but the retaining strip with some licence paper adhering to it and possible damage on removal from the windscreen, has to be replaced. In view of this a number of masked retaining strips 3, 4 may be provided on the carrier sheet 1 for successive use in conjunction with the same backing sheet 2.

The retaining strip 3 should be clearly transparent so that the licence date can still be easily read. In a development the strip 3 may be tinted in a distinctive colour to indicate its presence and thus act as a deterrent but without impairing visibility of the licence date.

Alternatively or additionally a warning sticker 5 may be provided for affixing to the windscreen W by the holder and may display a red triangle feature 50. The sticker 5 is shown conveniently provided on the carrier sheet 1 ready for removal and use.

Although the backing sheet 2 shown is of square form it may be of any suitable outline shape such as circular at 20 (Figures 5 and 6) and of a diameter larger than the licence disc L. Also and especially in the case of a circular backing sheet 20, it may have a spacer ring 22 preferably of the same flexible plastic sheet material and of the same exterior diameter permanently or removably fixed concentrically to it. The internal diameter or hole ofthe ring 22 is such as to accommodate a licence disc against the backing sheet 20 and the front face of the ring 22 is preferably smooth for suction adhesion to the windscreen W but may be affixed by an adhesive coating to the latter.

The backing sheet 2 or disc 20 and any ring 22 to the latter may be transparent, translucent or opaque and of any suitable colour. It may also carry printed matter on the back such as emergency breakdown service details, advertising or the like.

In some instances the retaining piece or strip 3 may be used as the sole mounting means of a licence disc L e.g., in a licence holder of a rigid type having a front window to the inner face of which the disc can be affixed by the retaining strip. Such licence holders are usually externally mounted on some vehicles and especially on motor cycles.

The retaining piece 3 may be also used as the sole means of mounting a licence disc on the inside of a windscreen. However the exposed disc may be subject to damage or be accidentally torn from the retaining piece. Protection of a backing sheet 2 is therefore desirable and also to provide a suitable interior appearance.

Thus in a simplified practical form of the holder shown in Figures 7 and 8, the backing sheet 200 is initially supplied with a protective masking sheet 240 on its front adhesively treated surface or smooth suction adhesive front surface together with a separate retaining strip 3 masked as at 4, 44 on both or its adhesively treated sides. One of the masking sheets 4, 44 may be larger than the other. More than one such initially masked retaining strip may be supplied with the masked backing sheet 200, e.g., in a sales display or like packaging which latter is preferably transparent to clearly show its contents.

The advantageous manner ofusing the holder is the same as that already described, i.e., after removal of the masking sheet 240 from the backing sheet 200 a licence disc L is affixed or located on its front surface. Masking 44 is then removed from one adhesive side of the retaining strip 3 and the latter applied by that side over the date area D of the licence disc L after which the masking 4 at the other or front adhesive surface of the retaining strip 3 is removed.

As before the complete assembly is applied to and pressed against a windscreen W such that the front surface of the retaining strip 3 firmly adheres to the windscreen W and that part 230 of the backing sheet 100, extending about the periphery of the licence disc L is adhered or suction adhered to the windscreen W.

Typical outline of printed matter on the rear surface of the backing sheet 200 in indicated at 250.

It is to be understood that various developments or modifications of the above described mounting means or holder may be made within the scope of the invention herein defined.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A licence or like mounting means or holder comprising a retaining piece of transparent sheet material which is adhesively treated on both sides and is adapted for adhesive application by one side over at least essential matter on a licence or the like such as the expiry date, and wherein the other side of said retaining piece is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the inner face of a vehicle windscreen or other display surface whereby on an attempt to remove the licence or the like its adhesion to the retaining piece adhering to the windscreen or other display surface tears away or defaces at least the essential matter or date ofthe licence or the like thus rendering it useless.

2. A licence or like mounting means or holder according to claim 1 wherein the retaining piece is of strip or tape form.

3. A licence or like mounting means or holder according to claim 1 or 2 wherein there is provided for use in conjunction with said retaining piece, a holder backing sheet which receives a licence or the like thereon for application of the latter with the retaining piece affixed thereto to the inner face of a windscreen or other display surface, the front face of the holder backing sheet being adhesively treated or of smooth form for adhesion or suction adhesion to the inner face of the windscreen or other display surface.

4. A licence or like mounting means or holder according to claim 3 wherein at least one initially protectively masked retaining piece and a holder backing sheet are initially affixed to a carrier sheet for convenient supply or sale ofthe licence or like mounting means or holder e.g., in wallet pack or kit form.

5. A licence or like mounting means or holder according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the retaining piece or one or more thereof is or are initially protectively masked on both sides for supply or sale ready for use.

6. A licence or like mounting means or holder according to claim 5 wherein a holder backing sheet initially protectively masked on its front adhesive or suction adhesive surface and at least one retaining piece initially protectively masked on both adhesive sides are provided for supply or sale ready for use.

7. A licence or like mounting means or holder according to any ofthe preceding claims wherein the or each transparent retaining piece is tinted in a distinctive colour to indicate its presence in use.

8. A licence or like mounting means or holder in any of the embodiments thereof substantially as herein described with reference tot he accompanying drawings.