WO2008053452A2

WO2008053452A2 - Licence holder

Info

Publication number: WO2008053452A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/054454
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keneilwe Grace Mshengu; Pieter Etienne Dreyer; Marco Alexandre De Carvalho; José DE SA; Glen Grainger
Original assignee: Keneilwe Grace Mshengu; Pieter Etienne Dreyer; Marco Alexandre De Carvalho; De Sa Jose; Glen Grainger
Priority date: 2006-11-03
Filing date: 2007-11-02
Publication date: 2008-05-08
Also published as: WO2008053452A3

Abstract

The invention provides for a licence holder (200) for attachment of a licence to a vehicle windscreen. The licence holder (200) includes a windscreen-attaching part (212) for attaching the holder (200) to the windscreen, a backing (214) which is releasably attached to the windscreen-attaching part (212) and a blade (260) for cutting out, from a sheet (250), a licence of a circular disc shape. The windscreen-attaching part (212) defines a central axis (215) and the blade (260) is slidably movable about the axis (260). The invention extends to a kit for a licence holder.

Description

LICENCE HOLDER

THIS INVENTION relates to a licence holder, in particular a licence holder for attachment of a licence to a vehicle windscreen.

In South Africa and other countries, a vehicle owner receives a vehicle licence from the relevant authority in the form of a sheet of paper from which the owner first cuts out a licence of a circular disc shape before attaching the licence to the inside of the front windscreen of a vehicle.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a licence holder for attachment of a licence to a vehicle windscreen, the holder including: a windscreen-attaching part for attaching the holder to the windscreen; a backing which is releasably attached to the windscreen-attaching part; and a blade for cutting out, from a sheet, a licence of a circular disc shape, the windscreen-attaching part defining a central axis and the blade being slidably movable about the axis.

In other words, the invention provides a licence holder which includes a blade to enable a vehicle owner to cut out, from a sheet, a licence of a circular disc shape and attaching it to the vehicle windscreen.

The windscreen-attaching part may be annular and define a central circular aperture. In particular, the disc of the licence may be cut of a size which allows it to be sandwiched between the windscreen-attaching part and the backing, the aperture being sized such that a central portion of the disc of the licence is visible through the aperture.

The windscreen-attaching part may include a circular peripheral groove for receiving a tip or edge of the blade.

The windscreen-attaching part and the backing may each have a plurality of complementary attachment formations.

The attachment formations may be pins and complementary sockets, the pins being provided on the attaching part and the sockets being defined in the backing.

The windscreen-attaching part may comprise a connecting portion and an adhesive portion, an adhesive surface for attachment of the windscreen-attaching part to the windscreen being provided on a side of the adhesive portion, the opposite side of the adhesive portion being attached to the connecting portion, and the attaching formations of the windscreen-attaching part being provided on the connecting portion.

The backing may have a circular periphery, the blade being slidably movable around the periphery. A cutting edge of the blade may radially outwardly spaced from the periphery of the backing. Instead, the cutting edge of the blade may be radially inwardly spaced from the periphery of the backing.

The backing may comprise a cutting part and an engaging part for engaging with the windscreen-attaching part, the engaging part being releasably attached to the windscreen-attaching part and the cutting part being slidably attached to the engaging part and being rotatable about the axis of the windscreen- attaching part, the blade being located on the cutting part.

The cutting part may be annular, the cutting part defining a central circular opening, and the engaging part may be circular in outline and may include a central raised circular portion and an annular peripheral portion, the raised circular portion being received by the opening of the cutting part.

The blade may be provided by a cutting tooth which is integral with the cutting part. The cutting part may include a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutting teeth which are integral with the cutting part.

The engaging part may include a plurality of attachment formations which are located on the peripheral portion and are circumferentially spaced.

The peripheral portion of the engaging part may include a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for assembling a licence holder for attachment of a licence to a vehicle windscreen, the kit including: a windscreen-attaching part for attaching the holder to the windscreen; a backing which is releasably attachable to the windscreen-attaching part; and a blade for cutting out, from a sheet, a licence of a circular disc shape, the windscreen-attaching part defining a central axis and the blade being slidably movable about the axis when the windscreen-attaching part is attached to the backing.

The backing may have a circular periphery, the blade being slidably movable around the periphery.

The backing may comprise a cutting part and an engaging part for engaging with the windscreen-attaching part, the engaging part being releasably attachable to the windscreen-attaching part and the cutting part being slidably attached to the engaging part and being rotatable about the axis of the windscreen- attaching part when the engaging part is attached to the windscreen-attaching part, the blade being located on the cutting part.

The cutting part may be annular, the cutting part defining a central circular opening, and the engaging part may be circular in outline and includes a central raised circular portion and an annular peripheral portion, the raised circular portion being received by the opening of the cutting part.

The peripheral portion of the engaging part may include a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members.

The invention will now be described by way of the following non- limiting, illustrative Examples with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic face-on view of a licence holder in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the licence holder of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic face-on view of the opposite face of the licence holder of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic three dimensional view of an windscreen-attaching part of the licence holder of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the windscreen-attaching part of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic face-on view of the windscreen-attaching part of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a diagrammatic face-on view of an opposite face to that shown in Figure 6 of the windscreen-attaching part of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic three dimensional view of a backing of the licence holder of Figure 1 ; Figure 9 is a diagrammatic side view of the backing of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic face-on view of the backing of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic face-on view of an opposite face to that shown in Figure 10 of the backing of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic three dimensional view, on an enlarged scale, of a blade of the backing of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic exploded three dimensional view of a second embodiment of a licence holder in accordance with the invention with a sheet of paper;

Figure 14 shows diagrammatically, on an enlarged scale, portion 'A' of Figure 13 of the engaging part of the backing of the licence holder;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic face-on view of the licence holder of Figure 13, a circular disc having been cut out of the sheet;

Figure 16 shows diagrammatically a cross-section of the licence holder of Figure 13 viewed in the direction of the line XVI-XVI in Figure 15; and Figure 17 diagrammatically shows, on an enlarged scale, portion 'B' of the cross-section of Figure 16.

Referring to Figures 1 - 3, a first embodiment of a licence holder is designated generally by reference numeral 10. The holder 10 comprises an annular windscreen-attaching part 12 and a circular backing 14 which is releasably attached to the windscreen-attaching part 12. The windscreen-attaching part 12 defines a central axis 15. The windscreen-attaching part 12 and the backing 14 are of a plastics material. The backing 14 includes a blade 60 having a more or less triangularly shaped tip 62 which provides a cutting edge, the tip 62 terminating in a sharp, pointed end 63 at the apex thereof. The blade 60 is also of a plastics material. It will be appreciated that the blade 60 could instead be of metal. The blade 60 is slidably attached to the backing 14, as is more fully described below, and is rotatable about the axis 15, the blade 60 being movable along a circular path around the outer periphery 64 of the backing 14. The windscreen-attaching part 12 is shown separately in Figures 4 - 7, the backing 14 is shown separately in Figures 8 - 1 1 , and the blade 60 is shown separately in Figure 12.

The windscreen-attaching part 12 defines a central, circular aperture 46 which extends axially through the windscreen-attaching part 12. The windscreen- attaching part 12 comprises an annular adhesive portion 70 and a rigid, annular connecting portion 72. The adhesive portion 70 is received in an annular groove (not shown) defined in an axially facing side 74 of the connecting portion 72. An opposite side 76 (Figure 7) of the connecting portion 72 is provided with four radially spaced, axially projecting pins 78 in the form of rounded pins or bosses. A circular groove 80 is defined in the side 76, radially outwardly of the pins 78, for receiving the pointed end 63 of the tip 62 of the blade 60. The adhesive portion 70 has an annular adhesive surface 43 on the side 81 thereof facing axially away from the side 76 of the connecting portion 72, the opposite side (not shown) being adjacent and adhering to a floor (not shown) of the groove defined in the side 74 of the connecting portion 72.

The backing 14 has complementary sockets 82 within which the pins 78 are received. A licence disc 48 (Figure 1 ) is sandwiched between the windscreen-attaching part 12 and the backing 14, the disc 48 being perforated by the pins 78, and a central portion of the disc 48 being visible through the aperture 46

(Figure 1 ). The backing 14 comprises a circular wall 84 which has a raised, annular, peripheral portion 86 on the side 88 of the wall 84 facing the windscreen-attaching part 12, the sockets 82 being defined in the peripheral portion 86. The wall 84 covers the aperture 46. The backing 14 is of a slightly smaller diameter than that of the windscreen-attaching part 12.

The blade 60 has a connecting portion 90 (Figure 21 ) which is captured within a circumferentially extending, radially outwardly opening groove 92 defined in the radially outer peripheral side edge wall 94 of the backing 14, the connecting portion 90 having a transversely projecting flange 96 which is received in a circumferentially extending recess (not shown) defined in the surface of a side wall 98 of the groove 92, said surface of the wall 98 facing the windscreen-attaching part 12 (see Figures 2 and 9). The opposite side wall of the groove 92 which faces the side wall 98 is designated by reference numeral 99. The tip 62 of the blade 60 projects transversely to the connecting portion 90 in the direction opposite to that of the flange 96, i.e. in the axial direction faced by the surface of the wall 98, the tip 62 being spaced radially outwardly from the radially outer periphery 64 of the backing 14 and in register with the groove 80 of the windscreen-attaching part 12. The blade 60 is provided with a gripping portion or tab 100 which is also spaced radially outwardly from the periphery 64 and projects in an opposite direction to that of the tip 62, somewhat beyond the wall 84.

Referring to Figures 13 - 17, a second embodiment of a licence holder in accordance with the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 200.

The holder 200 comprises an annular windscreen-attaching part 212 and a circular backing 214 which is releasably connected to the windscreen- attaching part 212. The windscreen-attaching part 212 defines a central axis 215. The windscreen-attaching part 212 and the backing 214 are of a plastics material.

The backing 214 comprises a cutting part 216 and an engaging part 218 for engaging with the windscreen-attaching part 212. The cutting part 216 is annular, the cutting part 216 defining a central circular opening 220, and the engaging part 218 is circular in outline. The engaging part 218 comprises a circular wall 224 which has an annular peripheral portion 226 and a raised central circular portion 228 on the side 230 of the wall 224 facing away from the windscreen- attaching part 212. The raised circular portion 228 is received by the opening 220.

The peripheral portion 226 and the cutting part 216 are somewhat resiliently flexible.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced sockets 232 are defined in the peripheral portion 226. The engaging part 218 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members 234 on the peripheral portion 226 which are located radially inwardly of the sockets 232 and adjacent the raised circular portion 228. The cutting part 216 is releasably attachable to the engaging part 218 in a snap-fit, a circumferentially extending rib 236 on the cutting part 216 being received by a circumferentially extending groove 238 defined in a radially outwardly facing side wall of the peripheral portion 226 of the engaging part 218. The cutting part includes a peripheral wall 240 and an axially facing wall 242, the wall 240 being inclined towards the wall 242. The opening 220 is defined by the wall 242. The wall 240 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced decorative indentations 244. When the cutting part 216 is attached to the engaging part 218, the cutting part 216 is slidably rotatable about the circular portion 228 and is thus rotatable about the axis

215 of the windscreen-attaching part 212, the windscreen-attaching part 212, the cutting part 216 and the engaging part 218 being co-axially aligned.

Three circumferentially spaced blades 260 are located on an axially projecting portion the cutting part 216, one of the blades 260 being shown in Figures

16 and 17. The blades 260 are movable along a circular part when the cutting part

216 is rotated about the axis 215. The blades 260 are also of a plastics material, the blades being cutting teeth which integral with the cutting part 216. Each blade 260 terminates in a sharp, pointed end 263.

The windscreen-attaching part 212 defines a central, circular aperture 246 which extends axially through the windscreen-attaching part 212. The backing 1 14 covers the aperture 246. The windscreen-attaching part 212 comprises an annular adhesive portion 270 and an annular connecting portion 272 (Figure 17). The adhesive portion 270 is received in an annular groove 273 defined in an axially facing side 274 of the connecting portion 272. An opposite side 276 (Figure 13) of the connecting portion 272 is provided with a plurality of radially spaced, axially projecting pins 278, which are received in the sockets 232 when the engaging part 218 is attached to the windscreen-attaching part 212. A circular groove 280 is defined in the side 276, radially outwardly of the pins 278, for receiving the pointed ends 263 of the blades 260. The adhesive portion 270 has an annular adhesive surface 243 on the side 282 thereof facing axially away from the side 276, the opposite side 283 being adjacent and adhering to a floor of the groove 273.

A circular licence disc 248 (Figures 16 and 17) is sandwiched between the windscreen-attaching part 212 and the backing 214, the disc 248 being perforated by the pins 278, and a central portion of the disc 248 being visible through the aperture 246.

Referring again to Figures 1 - 9, in use, the windscreen-attaching part 12 is more or less permanently attached to the windscreen (not shown) with the adhesive surface 43 abutting the windscreen. When a licence disc 48 is to be cut out from a sheet of paper (not shown), a user places the sheet on top of the windscreen-attaching part 12, adjacent the pins 78 and with the disc 48 registering with the opening 46, and presses the sheet of paper against the pins 78 until the sheet lies flat against the side 76 of the windscreen-attaching part 12, the sheet being perforated by the pins 78, which hold the sheet in place against rotation about the axis 15. The backing 14 is attached to the windscreen-attaching part 12 by frictional engagement between the pins 78 and their sockets 82, the pins 78 being received by the sockets 82, the sheet being sandwiched between the windscreen- attaching part 12 and the backing 14. The tab 100 of the blade 60 is grasped and the blade 60 is pulled around the periphery 64 of the backing 14 along a circular path, the end 63 of the tip 62 being received by the groove 80, the groove 80 thus providing a track along which the end 63 runs, thereby cutting out a circular disc 48 from the sheet.

When the licence disc 48 is to be replaced by another, the backing 14 is detached from the windscreen-attaching part 12, the old licence disc is removed from the windscreen-attaching part 12 and is replaced by another licence disc in the manner described above, the windscreen-attaching part 12 at all times remaining attached to the windscreen.

Referring to Figures 13 - 17, in use, the windscreen-attaching part 212 is more or less permanently attached to the windscreen (not shown) with the adhesive surface 243 abutting the windscreen and the cutting part 216 would generally be kept attached to the engaging part 218 to provide the backing 214. When a licence disc 248 is to be cut out from a sheet 250 of paper, a user places the sheet 250 on top of the windscreen-attaching part 212, adjacent the pins 278 and with the disc 248 registering with the opening 246, and presses the sheet 250 against the pins 278 until the sheet 250 lies flat against the side 276 of the windscreen-attaching part 212, the sheet 250 being perforated by the pins 278, which hold the sheet 250 in place against rotation about the axis 215. The backing 214 is attached to the windscreen-attaching part 212 by frictional engagement between the pins 278 and their sockets 232, the pins 278 being received by the sockets 232, the sheet 250 being sandwiched between the windscreen-attaching part 212 and the backing 214. The cutting part 216 is rotated about the axis 215, the cutting part 216 being simultaneously pressed against the windscreen-attaching part 212 so that the ends 263 of the blades 260 cut through the sheet 250, the ends 263 being received by the groove 280 which thus provides a track along which the ends 263 run, thereby cutting out a circular disc 248 from the sheet 250.

When the licence disc 248 is to be replaced by another, the backing

214 is detached from the windscreen-attaching part 212, the old licence disc is removed from the windscreen-attaching part 212 and is replaced by another licence disc in the manner described above, the windscreen-attaching part 212 at all times remaining attached to the windscreen.

Claims

1 . A licence holder for attachment of a licence to a vehicle windscreen, the holder including: a windscreen-attaching part for attaching the holder to the windscreen; a backing which is releasably attached to the windscreen-attaching part; and a blade for cutting out, from a sheet, a licence of a circular disc shape, the windscreen-attaching part defining a central axis and the blade being slidably movable about the axis.

2. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the windscreen- attaching part is annular and defines a central circular aperture.

3. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 2, in which the windscreen- attaching part includes a circular peripheral groove for receiving a tip or edge of the blade.

4. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 3, in which the windscreen- attaching part and the backing each have a plurality of complementary attachment formations.

5. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 4, in which the attachment formations are pins and complementary sockets, the pins being provided on the attaching part and the sockets being defined in the backing.

6. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 4, in which the windscreen- attaching part comprises a connecting portion and an adhesive portion, an adhesive surface for attachment of the windscreen-attaching part to the windscreen being provided on a side of the adhesive portion, the opposite side of the adhesive portion being attached to the connecting portion, and the attaching formations of the windscreen-attaching part being provided on the connecting portion.

7. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the backing has a circular periphery, the blade being slidably movable around the periphery.

8. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 7, in which a cutting edge of the blade is radially outwardly spaced from the periphery of the backing.

9. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 7, in which a cutting edge of the blade is radially inwardly spaced from the periphery of the backing.

10. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the backing comprises a cutting part and an engaging part for engaging with the windscreen-attaching part, the engaging part being releasably attached to the windscreen-attaching part and the cutting part being slidably attached to the engaging part and being rotatable about the axis of the windscreen-attaching part, the blade being located on the cutting part.

1 1 . A licence holder as claimed in Claim 10, in which the cutting part is annular, the cutting part defining a central circular opening, and the engaging part is circular in outline and includes a central raised circular portion and an annular peripheral portion, the raised circular portion being received by the opening of the cutting part.

12. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 10, in which the blade is provided by a cutting tooth which is integral with the cutting part.

13. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 12, in which the cutting part includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutting teeth which are integral with the cutting part.

14. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 13, in which the engaging part includes a plurality of attachment formations which are located on the peripheral portion and are circumferentially spaced.

15. A licence holder as claimed in Claim 1 1 , in which the peripheral portion of the engaging part includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members.

16. A kit for assembling a licence holder for attachment of a licence to a vehicle windscreen, the kit including: a windscreen-attaching part for attaching the holder to the windscreen; a backing which is releasably attachable to the windscreen-attaching part; and a blade for cutting out, from a sheet, a licence of a circular disc shape, the windscreen-attaching part defining a central axis and the blade being slidably movable about the axis when the windscreen-attaching part is attached to the backing.

17. A kit as claimed in Claim 16, in which the backing has a circular periphery, the blade being slidably movable around the periphery.

18. A kit as claimed in Claim 16, in which the backing comprises a cutting part and an engaging part for engaging with the windscreen-attaching part, the engaging part being releasably attachable to the windscreen-attaching part and the cutting part being slidably attached to the engaging part and being rotatable about the axis of the windscreen-attaching part when the engaging part is attached to the windscreen-attaching part, the blade being located on the cutting part.

19. A kit as claimed in Claim 18, in which the cutting part is annular, the cutting part defining a central circular opening, and the engaging part is circular in outline and includes a central raised circular portion and an annular peripheral portion, the raised circular portion being received by the opening of the cutting part.

20. A kit as claimed in Claim 18, in which the blade is provided by a cutting tooth which is integral with the cutting part.

21 . A kit as claimed in Claim 20, in which the cutting part includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutting teeth which are integral with the cutting part.

22. A kit as claimed in Claim 19, in which the peripheral portion of the engaging part includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members.