GB2557940A

GB2557940A - Document holder

Info

Publication number: GB2557940A
Application number: GB1621607.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Banks Andrew
Original assignee: Bts Congelton Ltd
Current assignee: Bts Congelton Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-19
Filing date: 2016-12-19
Publication date: 2018-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-19
Also published as: GB2557940B; GB201621607D0

Abstract

A document holder 200 for displaying a document 204 comprises a first plate 201, a second plate 202 and a seal member 203, wherein at least one of the plates has a substantially transparent region for viewing the document. The second plate is attached to the first plate with a removable fastening means, e.g. by use of tamper proof screws through holes 206. Both first and second plates may be provided with a transparent region so that documents may be viewed from both sides. A groove 207 may be provided to accommodate the unitary seal member 203. The document holder may be fixed to a vehicle, e.g. by use of bolts through holes 205. An additional document may be displayed by providing a third plate attached to the first plate with a further seal between the first and third plates (Fig. 6).

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

BTS (Congelton) Limited (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

15a Springvale Industrial Estate, Millbuck Way, SANDBACH, Cheshire, CW11 3HT, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Andrew Banks (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Barker Brettell LLP

100 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, BIRMINGHAM,

B16 8QQ, United Kingdom (51) INT CL:

G09F 7/00 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited:

WO 2005/025388 A1 CN 202858588 U FR 000734816 A JP 2015161697 A

JP 2013134287 A

AU 2010100252 (58) Field of Search:

INT CLA47G, G09F

Other: Online: EPODOC, WPI.

(54) Title of the Invention: Document holder Abstract Title: Document holder with seal (57) A document holder 200 for displaying a document 204 comprises a first plate 201, a second plate 202 and a seal member 203, wherein at least one of the plates has a substantially transparent region for viewing the document. The second plate is attached to the first plate with a removable fastening means, e.g. by use of tamper proof screws through holes 206. Both first and second plates may be provided with a transparent region so that documents may be viewed from both sides. A groove 207 may be provided to accommodate the unitary seal member 203. The document holder may be fixed to a vehicle, e.g. by use of bolts through holes 205. An additional document may be displayed by providing a third plate attached to the first plate with a further seal between the first and third plates (Fig. 6).

Section BB

²⁰¹ 204 / /	203
i-L-Dl—K-L	42T^{1 1 1}
U^{1 x}	1 1 1
207	\ 202

Figure 2

20:

1/9

Figure 1

2/9

Figure 2

3/9

Figure 3

4/9

Figure 4

5/9

Figure 5

6/9

621

604

606 626

601

624

Section FF

ΓΗ T

Λ L·

XL

609

606

603

602

626 ⁶²²

623

Figure 6

7/9

Figure 7

8/9

Figure 8b

9/9

Figure 9

DOCUMENT HOLDER

The present invention relates to a document holder for securely displaying documents, more specifically a document holder for displaying vehicle licensing documents affixed to the exterior of a vehicle.

Commercial vehicles and trailers meeting certain criteria may be required by law to visibly display licensing documents. In the UK, such documents include two broad categories of document: plating documents (that relate to the design and construction of the vehicle or trailer) and test documents (that indicate the date of testing of a vehicle), as outlined in “The Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988”.

These documents are expensive to replace. The test documents must be replaced after each annual test of the vehicle and/or trailer. This provides a motivation for theft of the test documents - obtaining a more recent test document delays the need for both a test and a replacement test document. Inspection of test documents may be cursory, and a document with a current date may be sufficient to pass a roadside inspection, even if vehicle identification informed is mismatched (or missing from the vehicle and/or trailer).

Additionally, pressure washing and steam-cleaning of vehicles and trailers is common. This can lead to damage to both the plating document and test document, which must then be replaced as prior art document holders are not sufficiently protective from the environment.

A solution to at least some of the above mentioned problems is desirable.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a document holder for displaying a document, comprising a first plate, a second plate and a unitary seal member. The unitary seal member is disposed between the first and second plates, and defines the region for displaying a document, between the first and second plates and within the seal. The second plate is attached to the first plate by a removable fastening means. At least one of the first plate or second plate has a substantially transparent region for viewing the document. This provides better protection from the environment for documents displayed within the defined region.

The term “unitary” may mean formed of a single entity, rather than being made up of several separable parts. It can be appreciated that the substantially transparent region could extend beyond the region for displaying the document. For example, the whole of the first and/or second plate could be substantially transparent.

Both the first plate and second plate may have substantially transparent regions, so that the display region can be viewed through the first plate or the second plate and the document holder is reversibly mountable. This provides protection from malicious activity, as the removable fastening means may be less easily accessible when the document holder is mounted reversibly to the side of a vehicle (as explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments). In practice, it may be useful for both plates to have a corresponding substantially transparent region, so that the user can choose which mounting orientation would be preferable.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a document holder for displaying a document, comprising a first plate, a second plate and a seal member; wherein the second plate and first plate each have substantially transparent regions for viewing the document. The second plate is attached to the first plate with a removable fastening means, and the seal member defines a display region between the first and second plate and within the seal.

At least one of the first plate and second plate may comprise a groove for receiving the unitary seal member. The groove may help retain the seal in place, providing greater protection from the environment and improving the ease with which the document holder can be assembled and manufactured.

The unitary seal member may be a self-adhesive unitary seal member. This may provide an alternative way of securing the seal in place.

Self-adhesive may mean that at least one side of the unitary seal member is coated with an adhesive substance and so can adhere to one of the first plate or second plate.

Optionally, the adhesive coating may be prevented from sticking to anything until necessary by use of a covering sheet (e.g. waxed paper).

The substantially transparent region need not be restricted to the dimensions of the region for displaying the document, but could in fact be the whole of both the first and second plate.

The removable fastening means may comprise a tamper-proof screw. The term “tamper-proof’ in this disclosure means any screw with a drive that requires a tool, the drive not selected from: philips; slot; cross; square; frearson; pozidriv or hex. Tamper proof screws may include, but are not limited to: torx; tri-wing; pentalobe; clutch and torq-set screws.

The transparent region may substantially block ultraviolet (UV) light. Documents may degrade when exposed to UV light, for example making them more difficult to read.

At least one of the first plate and second plate may comprise (or consist mainly or entirely of) a strong, tough and substantially transparent material, such as polycarbonate or another engineering plastic. This provides ease of viewing the document displayed and protection from both the environment and malicious activity, as the document holder will be resistant to damage.

To clarify, a material considered strong in this context is one that has a tensile strength at standard conditions (i.e. IUPAC SATP) of at least 50 MPa (5 xlO⁷ Nm²). A material with an izod impact strength of at least 500 kJm-2 (5.5 x 10⁵ Nm¹) would be considered tough. Engineering plastics are a group of plastic materials with superior mechanical properties to common plastics such as polystyrene and polypropylene. Polycarbonate is an exemplary material in this case due to its favourable optical properties (polycarbonate is naturally transparent) and good resistance to heat (which is pertinent when considering the above problem with steam cleaning).

The display region may have a width of between 130mm and 230mm, and a height of between 130mm and 230mm.

In the specific example of displaying a plating certificate, the display region may have a width and height of no less than 180mm.

The document holder may be is fixed to the exterior of a vehicle (e.g. a trailer)_with a further removable fastening means.

The further removable fastening means may comprise a tamper proof screw.

The first plate and second plate may further comprise a through-hole.

By through-hole it is meant that there are corresponding holes completely through the material of the first and second plates, such that when assembled correctly the first plate and second plate through-holes align to allow for mounting both the plates at once.

The document holder may be configured to display a further document. The document holder may further comprise a third plate and a further unitary seal member. The further unitary seal member may be disposed between the first and third plate and define a further display region between the first and third plate and within the further seal.

The third plate may have a substantially transparent region for viewing a document. This may allow the document holder to be mounted reversibly, which as discussed previously may provide greater protection from malicious activity. The substantially transparent region of the third plate may be formed from a UV blocking material.

The second plate may comprise a first edge region, and the third plate may comprise a corresponding second edge region. These edge regions may be configured to abut one another with substantially no gaps. This allows the third plate to be more easily positioned in a predefined location and orientation relative to the second plate. This improves the ease with which the document holder may be assembled, and the ease of replacing the further document.

The third plate may be produced from a strong, tough and substantially transparent material, such as polycarbonate or another engineering plastic.

The further display region may have a width of between 50mm and 110mm, and a height of between 50mm and 110mm.

The further display region may be circular with a radius of no less than 40mm.

At least one of the first plate, second plate and third plate may be a unitary body formed (e g. machined) from a single sheet of material. Each of the first plate, second plate and third plate may be a unitary body formed from a single sheet of material.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts for making a document holder in accordance with the first or second aspects of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of displaying a document on the exterior of a vehicle, in the display region of a document holder according to the first or second aspect of the invention.

The method may further comprise the step of removing the second plate from the first plate, inserting the document (e.g. the plating document and/or licensing document) and then reassembling the document holder.

The method may further comprise the step of affixing the document holder to the vehicle (e.g. a trailer).The document holder may be affixed to the side of the vehicle. The vehicle may be a trailer.

The method may comprise displaying a a further document on the exterior of a vehicle, using the document holder of the first or second aspect The further document is displayed in the further display region of the document holder.

The method may further comprise the step of removing the third plate from the first plate, inserting the further document and then reassembling the document holder.

The method may further comprise the step of affixing the document holder to the side of a vehicle or trailer.

The document may be a plating certificate.

The further document may be a testing document.

The vehicle may be a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) or a HGV trailer.

The features of each embodiment may be combined with the features of each other embodiment, either in isolation or in combination.

The term comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, the term a or an does not exclude a plurality.

Embodiments of the invention will be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment showing a front view and a section AA;

Figure 2a is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment showing a front view and a section BB;

Figure 2b is an enlarged view of section BB;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment showing a front view and a section CC;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment showing a front view and a section DD;

Figure 5 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment showing a front view and a section EE;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment showing a front view and a section FF;

Figure 7 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment showing a front view and a section GG;

Figure 8a is a front view of a second plate and third plate according to an example embodiment;

Figure 8b is a front view of a first plate according to an example embodiment; and

Figure 9 is a view of an assembled document holder according to an example embodiment.

In the following description, similar reference signs are generally used to refer to corresponding or similar features in different embodiments, where the first digit is incremented to correspond to the figure in question (e.g. 104 and 204 correspond to a first document display region in Figures 1 and 2 respectively).

Figure 1 is a document holder 100 comprising a first plate 101, a second plate 102 and a unitary seal member 103 disposed between the plates. The seal 103 defines a document display region 104 between the first plate 101 and the second plate 102 and within the seal 103. The document holder 100 may be mounted by use of the throughholes 105, and the second plate 102 attached to the first plate 101 by utilising holes 106 (for example using a screw or similar fastener). Alternatively, the first and second plate may be clamped against a mounting by a fastener in the through hole 105, and the holes 106 may be omitted. In this example, the second plate 102 faces outwardly and is substantially transparent, for viewing the document within the document display region 104.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate an embodiment of an alternative document holder 200. In common with figure 1, the document holder 200 comprises a first plate 201, a second plate 202 and a unitary seal member 203 disposed between the plates. The seal 203 again defines a document display region 204 between the first plate 201 and the second plate 202 and within the seal 203. The document holder 200 may be mounted by use of the through-holes 205, and the second plate 202 attached to the first plate 202 by utilising holes 206. Additionally, the first plate 201 comprises a groove 207, for housing the unitary seal member 203. The groove 207 helps to retain the unitary seal member 203, improving the ease with which the holder 200 can be assembled, and improving the environmental resistance thereof. The groove may also allow the first plate 201 and second plate 202 to be pressed more tightly together when the second plate 202 is attached to the first plate 201. Figure 2b is an enlarged view of section BB, and illustrates the groove 207 more clearly.

Figure 3 illustrates an example document holder 300, mounted with tamper-proof screws 308. In common with Figure 1, the document holder 300 comprises a first plate 301, a second plate 302 and a unitary seal member 303 disposed between the plates. The seal 303 again defines a document display region 304 between the first plate 301 and the second plate 302 and within the seal 303. Unlike in Figure 1, the first plate 301 is taller and wider than the second plate 302. This may make it easier for the second plate 302 to be removed from the first plate 301 without unmounting the document holder 300. Holes 306 are provided for this purpose. The holes 306 may not be through holes, that pass fully through the first plate 306.

Figure 4 illustrates an example document holder 400, in this instance mounted with tamper-proof screws 408 such that the first plate 401 faces outwardly. In common with Figure 2, the document holder 400 comprises a first plate 401, a second plate 402 and a unitary seal member 403 disposed between the plates and housed in groove 407. The seal 403 again defines a document display region 404 between the first plate 401 and the second plate 402 and within the seal 403. Like in Figure 3, the first plate 401 is taller and wider than the second plate 402. The holder 400 is mounted such that the first plate 401 faces outwardly. Therefore, in this instance, at least the first plate has a substantially transparent region, in order to view the document displayed in region 404. Mounting the document holder 400 in this way, with the heads of the tamperproof screws 408 inaccessible, reduces the ease of access to the document displayed in region 404, reducing the likelihood of damage to or loss of the document through malicious activity.

Figure 5 is a document holder 500 comprising a first plate 501, a second plate 502 and a unitary seal member 503 disposed between the plates. The seal 503 defines a document display region 504 between the first plate 501 and the second plate 502 and within the seal 503. The document holder 500 is mounted using tamper-proof screws 508 through through-holes 505, additionally securing first plate 501 and second plate 502 together. In this case, both plates may be identical (hence the interchangeable use of 501/502 in Figure 5). This may provide greater ease of production and assembly.

Figure 6 is a document holder 600 for displaying two documents in regions 604 and 624 respectively. In common with Figure 1, the document holder 600 comprises a first plate 601; a second plate 602 and a unitary seal member 603 disposed between the first plate 601 and second plate 602. The seal 603 again defines a document display region 604 between the first plate 601 and the second plate 602 and within the seal 603. The document holder 600 may be mounted by use of the holes 609, and the second plate 602 attached to the first plate 602 using holes 606.

The document holder 600 further comprises a third plate 622 and a further unitary seal member 623. The further unitary seal member 623 is disposed between first plate 601 and third plate 622, and defines a region 624 for displaying a second document between first plate 601, third plate 622 and seal 623. The third plate 622 is attached to the first plate 601 utilising holes 626. The second plate 602 and third plate 622 can be removed from the first plate 601 separately, for greater ease of document replacement. This may be particularly useful in the case where one document must be regularly updated and the other is more permanent, such as testing and plating documents (respectively) for a HGV trailer or vehicle. A groove (not shown) may be provided for the seal member 603, 623.

Figure 7 is a document holder 700 for displaying two documents in regions 704 and 724 respectively. In common with Figure 6, the document holder 700 comprises a first plate 701, a second plate 702 and a unitary seat member 703 disposed between the first plate 701 and the second plate 702 and defining the region 704 for displaying a document between the first plate 701 and second plate 702 and within the seal 703

The document holder 700 further comprises a third plate 722 and a further unitary seal member 723. The further unitary seal member 723 is disposed between first plate 701 and third plate 722, and defines a region 724 for displaying a second document between first plate 701, third plate 722 and seal 723. The second plate 702 and third plate 722 are attached to the first plate 701 utilising holes 706 and 726 respectively.

Additionally, the second plate 702 comprises an edge region 710 and the third plate 722 comprises a corresponding edge region 730, allowing the second plate 702 and third plate 722 to abut with substantially no gaps, so that the third plate 722 rests in a predetermined location and orientation relative to the second plate 702. In addition to the second plate 702 and third plate 722 being removable separately, this makes assembly and reassemby of the document holder 700 easier, especially if the document holder 700 is being reassembled whilst mounted to the side of a vehicle (utilising holes 709).

Figures 8a and 8b illustrate the first plate 801, the second plate 802 and third plate 822 of an example document holder. Corresponding through-holes 805 are provided for mounting the document holder (e.g. to a vehicle). The first plate 801 comprises grooves 807 and 827 for housing seal members. Document display regions 804 and 824 are provided within the respective seals. Holes 806 are provided for attaching the second plate 802 to the first plate 801, and holes do not penetrate the first plate 801 fully, as they are purely a means for attaching the second plate 802 and third plate 822 to the first plate 801 respectively. The second plate 802 and third plate 822 comprise corresponding edge regions 810 and 830 such that there are no gaps. The plates 801, 802, 822 and display regions 804, 824 have dimensions suitable for displaying a plating certificate (e.g. VTG6) and testing document (e.g VTG 5B) for a Heavy Goods Vehicle or trailer.

Figure 9 is an assembled example document holder 900. In common with figure 7, the document holder 900 comprises a first plate 901, a second plate 902 and a unitary seal member 903 disposed between the first plate 901 and the second plate 902. A region 904 for displaying a document between the first plate 901 and second plate 902 is defined within the seal 903.

The document holder 900 further comprises a third plate 922 and a further unitary seal member 923. The further unitary seal member 923 is disposed between first plate 901 and third plate 922, and defines a region 924 for displaying a second document between first plate 901, third plate 922 and seal 923. The second plate 902 and third plate 922 are attached to the first plate 901 with screws 908 and 928 respectively (which may, or may not be, tamper-proof screws). The second plate 902 comprises an edge region 910 and the third plate 922 comprises a corresponding edge region 930, allowing the second plate 902 and third plate 922 to abut with substantially no gaps, and for the third plate 922 to rest in a predetermined location and orientation relative to the second plate 902. The plates 901, 902, 922 and display regions 904, 924 have dimensions suitable for displaying a plating certificate (Document 1, e.g. VTG 6) and testing document (Document 2, e.g. VTG 5) for a Heavy Goods Vehicle or trailer.

Although specific embodiments have been described, these are not intended to limit 5 the scope of the invention, which should be determined with reference to the accompanying claims. A number of modifications and variations are possible, which are intentionally within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A document holder for displaying a document, comprising: a first plate, a second plate and a unitary seal member; wherein at least one of the first plate and the second plate has a substantially transparent region for viewing the document, the second plate is attached to the first plate with a removable fastening means, and the unitary seal member is disposed between the first and second plate and defines a display region between the first and second plate and within the unitary seal member.

2. The document holder of claim 1, wherein the first plate and second plate have substantially transparent regions, so that the display region can be viewed through the first plate or the second plate and the document holder is reversibly mountable.

3. A document holder for displaying a document, comprising: a first plate and a second plate and a seal member;

wherein: the second plate and first plate each have substantially transparent regions for viewing the document, the second plate is attached to the first plate with a removable fastening means, and the seal member defines a display region between the first and second plate and within the seal.

4. The document holder of claim 3, wherein the seal member is a unitary seal member.

5. The document holder of any of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein at least one of the first plate and second plate comprises a groove for receiving the unitary seal member.

6. The document holder of any of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, wherein the unitary seal member is a self-adhesive unitary seal member.

7. The document holder of any preceding claim, wherein the removable fastening means comprises a tamper-proof screw.

8. The document holder of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first plate and second plate comprise a strong, tough and substantially transparent material, such as polycarbonate or another engineering plastic.

9. The document holder of any preceding claim, wherein the display region has a width of between 130mm and 230mm, and a height of between 130mm and 230mm.

10. The document holder of any preceding claim, wherein the document holder is fixed to the exterior of a vehicle with a further removable fastening means.

11. The document holder of claim 10, wherein the further removable fastening means comprises a tamper proof screw.

12. The document holder of any preceding claim, wherein the first plate and second plate further comprise a through-hole.

13. The document holder of any preceding claim, configured to display a further document, the document holder further comprising;

a third plate and a further unitary seal member, wherein the further unitary seal member is disposed between the first and third plate and defines a further display region between the first and third plate and within the further seal.

14. The document holder of claim 14, wherein the third plate has a substantially transparent region for viewing a document.

15. The document holder of claim 13 or 14, wherein the second plate comprises a first edge region, and the third plate comprises a corresponding second edge region configured to abut the first edge region with substantially no gaps between the first and second edge region so that the third plate is positioned in a predefined location and orientation relative to the second plate.

16. The document holder of any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the third plate comprises a strong, tough and substantially transparent material, such as polycarbonate or another engineering plastic.

17. The document holder of any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the further display region has a width of between 50mm and 110mm, and a height of between 50mm and 110mm.

18. The document holder of any preceding claim, wherein at least one transparent region comprises a UV blocking material.

19. A kit of parts for making the document holder of any preceding claim.

20. A method of displaying a document on the exterior of a vehicle, using the document holder according to any of claims 1 to 18, the document being displayed in the display region of the document holder.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of removing the second plate from the first plate, inserting the document and then reassembling the document holder.

22. The method of claim 20 or claim 21, further comprising the step of affixing the document holder to the vehicle.

23. The method of any of claims 20 to 22, further comprising displaying a a further document on the exterior of a vehicle, wherein the document holder is according to any of claims 13 to 17, the further document displayed in the further display region.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of removing the third plate from the first plate, inserting the further document and then reassembling the document holder.

25. The method of any of claims 22 to 24, wherein the document is a plating certificate.

26. The method of any of claims 22 to 25, wherein the second document is a testing document.

5

27. The method of any of claims 22 to 26, wherein the vehicle is a Heavy Goods

Vehicle (HGV) or a HGV trailer.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1621607.9 Examiner: Dr Matthew Jefferson