GB2475691A

GB2475691A - Mounting arrangement for mounting item on vehicle registration plate

Info

Publication number: GB2475691A
Application number: GB0920664A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Neville Hodges
Original assignee: Hodges and Drake Design Ltd
Current assignee: Hodges and Drake Design Ltd
Priority date: 2009-11-26
Filing date: 2009-11-26
Publication date: 2011-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-26
Also published as: GB2475691B; GB0920664D0

Abstract

A mounting arrangement 10 for mounting an item to be displayed 36 on a vehicle registration plate 12 fixed to a vehicle comprises first and second mounting members 14, 16 which engage first and second opposite edges 12a, 12b of the vehicle registration plate 12. A fastening member 26 extends between the first and second mounting members 14, 16 to maintain the first and second mounting members 14, 16 in engagement with the first and second edges 12a, 12b of the vehicle registration plate 12. The item to be displayed 36 is provided on at least one of the first and second mounting members 14, 16. The fastening member 26 may include a tie wrap which may cooperate with a ratchet mechanists 32.

Description

A mounting arrangement

FIELD OF THE NVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a mounting arrangement for mounting an item to be displayed on a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a mounting arrangement for mounting an item on a vehicle registration plate.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are many circumstances in which it can be desirable to mount an item on a motor vehicle to display information to third parties. As an example, an individual who supports a particular sports or football team may affix an adhesive badge directly to the vehicle bodywork to demonstrate their support for that team. As another example, in most countries a driver under instruction has to display information alerting other drivers to their learner driver' status, and this is typically by way of an L-plate' which is usually adhesively or magnetically attached to the vehicle bodywork.

When badges, L-plates' and similar items are affixed directly to vehicle bodywork, the bodywork, and in particular delicate paintwork, can be damaged, especially during removal of such items from a vehicle.

It has also become increasingly common for motor vehicle dealers to display information, such as their name, on a display plate that is normally located along the lower edge of a vehicle registration plate. One known form of display plate is fixed to the vehicle with the vehicle registration plate subsequently being fixed to a fixing region of the display plate. Another known form of display plate is retained in position between the vehicle registration plate and the vehicle bodywork to which the vehicle registration plate is directly fixed, and typically requires removal of the vehicle registration plate to enable it to be fitted in position.

II would be desirable to provide a mounting arrangement which facilitates the mounting of an item on a motor vehicle, and which advantageously avoids damage to the vehicle bodywork.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a mounting arrangement for mounting an item on a vehicle registration plate fixed to a vehicle, the mounting arrangement comprising:-first and second mounting members which engage first and second opposite edges of the vehicle registration plate; and a fastening member which extends between the first and second mounting members to maintain the first and second mounting members in engagement with the first and second edges of the vehicle registration plate; wherein an item can be displayed on at least one of the first and second mounting members.

The term vehicle registration plate as used herein includes number plates, licence plates and similar metal or plastics plates fixed to a motor vehicle for official identification purposes. The first and second opposite edges may be lower and upper edges respectively of the vehicle registration plate. The first and second opposite edges may alternatively be side edges of the vehicle registration plate.

The item to be displayed is typically attachable to the or each mounting member, either permanently or releasably. For example, the item may be adhesively attachable to the or each mounting member or may be attachable to the or each mounting member by clips. Alternatively, the item to be displayed may be integral with the or each mounting member.

The item to be displayed can carry any suitable information to be conveyed to third parties, such as the name of a motor vehicle dealer, other advertising information or information alerting other road users to the status of the driver of the vehicle (for example a driver under instruction). The item could simply be a badge of allegiance which conveys support for a particular football team or other sports team.

The first and second mounting members grip the first and second edges of the vehicle registration plate enabling the mounting arrangement to be securely held in position on the vehicle registration plate. The mounting arrangement thus enables an item to be mounted on a vehicle without having to affix the item directly to the vehicle bodywork, for example using an adhesive. Furthermore, because the first and second mounting members grip the first and second edges of a vehicle registration plate, the mounting arrangement can be easily attached to a vehicle registration plate whilst it is fixed in position on a vehicle, avoiding the need to remove the vehicle registration plate from the vehicle.

The fastening member preferably extends behind the vehicle registration plate, between the first and second mounting members. This ensures that the fastening member does not obscure any part of the vehicle registration plate. The fastening member can be easily inserted behind the vehicle registration plate, between the vehicle registration plate and the vehicle bodywork, whilst the vehicle registration plate is fixed in position on the vehicle.

The fastening member may be integral with one of the first and second mounting members and may be engageable with the other of the first and second mounting members. Tn one embodiment, the fastening member is integral with the second mounting member and engages the first mounting member. An item to be displayed is typically provided on the first mounting member.

The fastening member may be elongate and may be engageable with said other of the first and second mounting members at different positions along its length. This enables the spacing between the first and second mounting members to be varied and allows the mounting arrangement to be mounted on vehicle registration plates of varying height or width.

The fastening member may comprise a tie-wrap which cooperates with said other of the first and second mounting members. Said other of the first and second mounting members may include a ratchet mechanism with which the tie-wrap cooperates to provide said engagement with the fastening member. The combination of a tie-wrap and ratchet mechanism is advantageous as it enables the first and second mounting members to be set apart at an appropriate spacing such that a vehicle registration plate can be firmly gripped between the first and second mounting members, irrespective of the height or width of the particular vehicle registration plate. In embodiments in which the fastening member is integral with the second mounting member, the ratchet mechanism is provided on the first mounting member.

The first and second mounting members and the fastening member are preferably formed of plastics material, for example by injection moulding. The plastics material may be semi-rigid and is typically translucent or transparent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWNGS

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a mounting arrangement according to the invention prior to mounting on a vehicle registration plate; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the mounting arrangement of Figure 1 partially mounted on a vehicle registration plate; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the mounting arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 mounted on a vehicle registration plate; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A in Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRTPT ION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE NVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A mounting arrangement 10 for mounting an item to be displayed on a vehicle registration plate 12 comprises a first mounting member 14 and a second mounting member 16. Prior to mounting the mounting arrangement 10 on a vehicle registration plate 12, the first and second mounting members 14, 16 are separate individual component parts, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

The first mounting member 14 includes a continuous transverse lip 18 that extends across a substantial portion of the width of a first, and in the illustrated embodiment lower, edge 12a of the vehicle registration plate 12 and a plurality of upstanding tabs which, in combination with the transverse lip 18, define a channel 22 which locates on the lower edge 12a of the vehicle registration plate 12. The channel 22 formed by the transverse lip 18 and the tabs 20 thus enables the first mounting member 14 to engage the lower edge 12a of the vehicle registration plate 12.

The second mounting member 16 includes a hook formation 24 which locates around a second, and in the illustrated embodiment upper, edge 1 2b of the vehicle registration plate 12, thus engaging the second mounting member 14 with the upper edge 12b. An elongate fastening member 26 is integrally formed with the second mounting member 16 and extends behind the vehicle registration plate 12 towards the first mounting member 14 for cooperation with the first mounting member 14. The elongate fastening member 26 is formed of a semi-rigid plastics material and can thus be easily inserted behind a vehicle registration plate 12 which is fixed in position on a vehicle, through the small gap formed between the vehicle registration plate 12 and the vehicle bodywork. The elongate fastening member 16 is obscured from view behind the vehicle registration plate 12 (as shown by the broken lines in Figures 2 and 3) and only part of the hook formation 24 is exposed along the upper edge 12b of the vehicle registration plate 12. The first and second mounting members 14, 16 are, however, formed from a transparent plastics material, so the vehicle registration plate 12 is clearly visible through the exposed part of the hook formation 24 as well as through the transverse lip 18 of the first mounting member 14.

The fastening member 26 includes a plurality of tooth formations 28 which form a tie-wrap 30. The tooth formations 28 are co-operable with a ratchet 32 provided on a rear surface of the first mounting member 14. As best seen in Figure 4, the ratchet 32 comprises a projection 34 which is resiliently biased into engagement with the tooth formations 28. The configuration of the tooth formations 28 and the projection 34 allows the first and second mounting members 14, 16 to be moved together (as shown in Figure 2), until they are brought into engagement respectively with the lower and upper edges 12a, 12b of the vehicle registration plate 12 (as shown in Figures 3 and 4), but prevents the first and second mounting members 14, 16 from moving apart.

The first and second mounting members 14, 16 can thus firmly engage the lower and upper edges 12a, 12b of the vehicle registration plate 12 to secure the mounting arrangement 10 to the vehicle registration plate 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening member 26 is formed so that a first section lies generally parallel to, and flush with, the rear surface of the vehicle registration plate 12 and so that a second section, on which the tooth formations 28 forming the tie-wrap 30 are provided, projects forwardly away from the lower edge 12a of the vehicle registration plate 12. This makes it easier to insert the fastening member 26 behind the vehicle registration plate 12 and to subsequently engage the tooth formations 28 formed on the fastening member 26 with the ratchet 32 on the first mounting member 14.

It will be appreciated from Figure 2 that part of the tie-wrap 30 of the fastening member 26 will project downwardly beyond the first mounting member 14 when the first and second mounting members 14, 16 are correctly mounted in their final positions in engagement with the lower and upper edges 12a, 12b respectively of the vehicle registration plate 12. The excess part of the tie-wrap 30 can simply be removed in a known manner using a suitable cutting tool, such as scissors, so that the lower end of the tie-wrap 30 is substantially flush with the lower edge of the first mounting member 14, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

Once the mounting arrangement 10 is mounted on the vehicle registration plate 12 as shown in Figure 4, an item 36 to be displayed is attached to the first mounting member 14. The item 36 typically carries an adhesive to enable it to be adhesively attached to the first mounting member 14, but other means of attachment are entirely within the scope of the present invention, as discussed earlier in this specification.

The item 36 could alternatively be attached to the first mounting member 14 before the mounting arrangement 10 is mounted onto the vehicle registration plate 12 or it could be an integral part of the first mounting member 14.

it will be seen in Figure 4 that the transverse lip 18 and the tabs 20 are arranged so that the first mounting member 14 is inclined upwardly relative to the front surface of the vehicle registration plate 12 when it engages the lower edge 12a of the vehicle registration plate 12. This may improve the visibility, and in particular the light reflective characteristics, of the item 36 attached to the first mounting member 14.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the accompanying claims.

For example, the first and second mounting members 14, 16 could engage the opposite side edges of the vehicle registration plate 12 instead of the lower and upper edges 12a, 12b.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mounting arrangement for mounting an item on a vehicle registration plate fixed to a vehicle, the mounting arrangement comprising:-first and second mounting members which engage first and second opposite edges of the vehicle registration plate; and a fastening member which extends between the first and second mounting members to maintain the first and second mounting members in engagement with the first and second edges of the vehicle registration plate; wherein an item can be displayed on at least one of the first and second mounting members.
2. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fastening member extends in use behind the vehicle registration plate between the first and second mounting members.
3. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fastening member is integral with either the first or second mounting member and is engageable with the other of the first and second mounting members.
4. A mounting arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the fastening member is engageable with said other of the first and second mounting members at different positions along its length to enable the spacing between the first and second mounting members to be varied.
5. A mounting arrangement according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the fastening member includes a tie-wrap which cooperates with said other of the first and second mounting members.
6. A mounting arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said other of the first and second mounting members includes a ratchet mechanism with which the tie-wrap cooperates.
7. A mounting arrangement according to any preceding claim, further including an item to be displayed provided on at least one of the first and second mounting members.
8. A mounting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the item is attached to at least one of the first and second mounting members.
9. A mounting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the item is integral with at least one of the first and second mounting members.
10. A mounting arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A mounting arrangement for mounting an item on a vehicle registration plate fixed to a vehicle, the mounting arrangement comprising:-first and second mounting members which engage first and second opposite edges of the vehicle registration plate; and a fastening member which extends between the first and second mounting members to maintain the first and second mounting members in engagement with the first and second edges of the vehicle registration plate, the fastening member including a tie-wrap which is integral with either one of the first or second mounting members and cooperates with the other of the first or second mounting members; wherein an item is displayed in use on at least one of the first and second mounting members.2. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tie-wrap extends in use behind the vehicle registration plate between the first and second mounting members.*::::* 3. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tie-wrap * : is engageable with said other of the first and second mounting members at different positions along its length to enable the spacing between the first and second mounting *.**..* * members to be vaned. * * S:. 4. A mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein * said other of the first and second mounting members includes a ratchet mechanism with which the tie-wrap cooperates.5. A mounting arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the item is attached to at least one of the first and second mounting members.6. A mounting arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the item is integral with at least one of the first and second mounting members.7. A mounting arrangement substantially as bereinbefore described andlor as shown in the accompanying drawings. * * *S..... * . * SS..... * S S... * S * a* S a. * S * S.