US1260214A - Automobile license-plate and illuminating means therefor. - Google Patents

Description

L. c. LAURENT.

AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE AND ILLUMINATING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.1'9I5.

1,260,214. Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Jam 651mm LOUIS o. LAURENT, or DENVER, oononano.

carton.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Man. 19, 191$.

Application filed July 3, 191a. Serial No. 87,985.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS C. LAURENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile License-Plates and Illuminating Means Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminated signs, especially designed for use with automobiles or other vehicles, wherein I not only provide a novel construction of a sign plate carrying the vehi- A cle license number, but an arrangement of plarts to render the sign readily distinguisha le.

Specifically stated, the invention aims to provide a sign of this character adapted for association with the mud guard of the vehicle, and essentially consists of a sign plate supported vertically upon said guard, and an illuminating means for the sign, which latter is disposed below the line of vision of the sign, so as not to form an obstruction, and to render the sign 'visible from both sides of the same-.---

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following description wherein the construction, combination and arrangement of parts are fully set forth in detail.

In the drawing forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an automobile showing my invention mounted upon the mud guard.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the sign proper.

Fig. 3 is a view of the sign removed from the frame and the year plate detached.

Referring more particularly to the drawing A indicates a portion of an automobile or other vehicle and B the rear mud guard, upon which the'elements constituting the sign or subject matter of my invention are arranged.

- The sign proper consists of a substantially oblong rectangular plate 5 having a substantially U-shaped cut away portion centrally disposed and opening at the upper edgeof the plate, while the body portion of the plate at the opposite sides of the open-' ing is cut away to provide the desired letters indicative of some one particular state.

The plate 5 below the opening is also cut away to provide the desired numbers -or figures indicative of the vehicle license. In connection with a sign of this character I also employ what may be termed a year plate 6 the latter containing indici'a indicative of the year, such as 1915 as shown. However the year number is not out out of the plate, being preferably painted'or otherwise arranged thereon so as to avoid confusion between the year number and the license number which would occur should the year number be cut out in the same manner as the license number. The plate 6 is adapted to be arranged over the U-shaped opening in the plate 5 having its marginal edges detachably secured to the plate 5 in any suitable manner to permit the plate 6 to be changed when desired. The plate 6 has its space above and below the year number colored so as to distinguish it from the preceding year plate. It is of course to be understood that with a sign constructed in accordance with my invention the owner of the machine is to retain the same license number from .year to year, necessitating only the change of the year plate,-in view of which fact the year plate is detachably as sociated with the license plate 5. Subsequent to the association of the plates 5 and 6 respectively, the sign is mounted within a suitable frame, which as shown in this particular instance-is constructed from metal which maybe either nickel-plated or otherwise treated to add to the ornamentation of the sign. The frame as shown consists of a bottom member 7, side members 8 and a top member 9, all of which are substantially U-shaped in .cross sectional contour, the top member 9 .being terminally connected with the side members 8 in any suitable manner to permit of its ready removal, when it is desired to remove the sign from the frame for the purpose ofchanging the year plate in the manner hereinabove described.

With the fact borne in mind that the sign is primarily intended for use in connection with the mud guard'of the vehicle, which consists of an inclined portion 10, and a curved portion 11 extending into the inclined portion, I provide the lower member 7 of the frame with an extension '12 forming a bracket adapted to be suitably secured to the mud guard B approximately at the point of juncture of the inclined portion 10 with the curved portion 11 thereof, thereby disposing the sign in vertical position to render the subject matter thereof readily distinguishable. 7

For the purpose of illuminating the sign after dark, I employ a hood light consisting of a hood 13 wherein is arranged a suitable light, preferably an electric light 14, the inner surface of the hood being treated, whereby the latter serves in the capacity. of a reflector. The hood is secured in any suitable manner to the inclined portion 10 of the mud guard B in advance of the sign and at a point whereby the hood 'is wholly disposed below the line of vision so as not to form an obstruction for the sign thereby rendering the same always visible, as the latter is arranged in the area of the illuminating rays of light, as well as protecting the sign from mud. By reason of this specific disposition of parts it will be further noted that the sign may be observed from either end of the machine, although if read from the front of the car it would read backward.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be thoroughly understood 7 without requiring a more extended explanation and therefore the same has been omitted.

What is claimed is:-

In combination with the rear fender of a motor vehicle, a plate secured upon the fender and having its material cut away to form openings of the form of numerals indicative of the license number of the vehicle, and illuminating means disposed upon the fender forwardly of the plate and below the level thereof'to be in a non-obstructive position, said illuminating means projecting light upon the confronting face of said plate and through said openings whereby the numerals may be visible from the front and rear of the vehicle.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS C. LAURENT.

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