U.S. patent application number 11/201920 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-19 for license plate frame.
This patent application is currently assigned to Perrin Manufacturing Company. Invention is credited to Patrick Perrin.
Application Number | 20060010735 11/201920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35206854 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060010735 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Perrin; Patrick |
January 19, 2006 |
License plate frame
Abstract
License plate frames having recessed areas in the frame surface
which form characters, words, and/or graphics, and having an
adhered layer of material of contrasting color on the frame
surface.
Inventors: |
Perrin; Patrick; (Rancho
Palos Verdes, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHELDON & MAK, INC
225 SOUTH LAKE AVENUE
9TH FLOOR
PASADENA
CA
91101
US
|
Assignee: |
Perrin Manufacturing
Company
|
Family ID: |
35206854 |
Appl. No.: |
11/201920 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10857064 |
May 28, 2004 |
6962013 |
|
|
11201920 |
Aug 9, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
40/209 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 13/105 20130101;
B60R 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
040/209 |
International
Class: |
G09F 7/00 20060101
G09F007/00 |
Claims
1. A frame for a vehicle license plate, comprising: (a) a substrate
having a substantially planar surface and having a first color; (b)
a contrast layer comprising a coloring agent having a second color
and an adhesive selected from the group consisting of a cold foil
type adhesive and a hot melting type adhesive, the contrast layer
being adhered to the substantially planar surface of the substrate,
wherein the second color contrasts with the first color; and (c)
one or more recessed portions in the substrate comprising one or
more characters.
2. The frame of claim 1, wherein at least one recessed portion
forms a complete character.
3. The frame of claim 1, wherein at least one of the characters
formed in the substrate comprises a contrasting portion having a
character upper surface which is substantially coplanar with the
substantially planar surface of the substrate, and wherein the
contrast layer is adhered to the character upper surface.
4. The frame of claim 3, wherein the contrasting portion forms a
complete character.
5. The frame of claim 3, wherein the contrasting portion is
entirely within a recessed portion.
6. The frame of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a plastic
material having a thickness of between about 120 and about 135
thousandths of an inch.
7. The frame of claim 6, wherein the recessed portions are
approximately 50 thousandths of an inch deep.
8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the recessed portions and the
substantially planar surface of the substrate meet at a
substantially non-radiused edge.
9. The frame of claim 1, wherein the frame is black and the
contrast layer is metallic in color.
10. The frame of claim 1, wherein the contrast layer comprises
multiple coloring agents.
11. The frame of claim 10, wherein the multiple coloring agents
form an image.
12. (canceled)
13. A method of forming a vehicle license plate frame, comprising
the steps of: (a) forming a frame body having a first color,
wherein the frame body comprises a substantially planar surface and
at least one character integrally molded with the frame body; and
(b) adhering a contrast layer comprising an adhesive substance and
a coloring agent having a second color to the substantially planar
surface of the frame body and not to the character, wherein the
second color contrasts with the first color.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (b) further comprises the
steps of: (i) providing a hot stamp foil having a transfer surface
and a working surface, the transfer surface comprising a layer of
colored material; (ii) placing the transfer surface of the hot
stamp foil onto the substantially planar surface; and (iii)
applying heat and pressure to the working surface of the hot stamp
foil, thereby forming the layer of colored material on the
substantially planar surface of the frame body.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the hot stamp foil has a
surface area sufficient to cover the substantially planar surface
of the frame body.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the adhesive is a cold foil
type adhesive.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the contrast layer is metallic
in color.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the contrast layer comprises
multiple coloring agents.
19. A method of forming a vehicle license plate frame, comprising
the steps of: (a) forming a frame body having a rear surface, a
front surface, and a first color, wherein the front surface has a
substantially planar section and at least one character integrally
molded with the frame body, wherein the distance between the rear
surface and the character is different than the distance between
the rear surface and the substantially planar section; and (b)
adhering a contrast layer comprising an adhesive substance and a
coloring agent having a second color to the substantially planar
section of the front surface of the frame body and not to the
character, wherein the second color contrasts with the first
color.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the adhesive substance is
selected from the group consisting of a cold foil type adhesive and
a hot melting type adhesive.
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation of pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/857,064, filed May 28, 2004 and
entitled "LICENSE PLATE FRAME," the entire disclosure of which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Decorative license plate frames, in particular those for
automobile license plates, frequently include words or decorative
symbols on their surfaces. For example, automobile dealerships
often include their names on license plate frames as a form of
advertisement. One method of forming words or symbols on a frame
surface is to screen print them on a flat surface of a molded
frame. Words can also be bonded or otherwise attached to a surface
of a frame. A further method of forming words on a license plate
frame is to integrally mold them on the surface of a plastic frame.
Letters formed in this way are raised above a flat surface of the
frame, and a layer of contrasting colored material is applied to
the letters' raised surface.
[0003] These methods of forming characters in a license plate
frame, however, suffer from several drawbacks. Screen printed
lettering, for example, lacks the visual depth of a raised letter.
Raised lettering, however, is subject both to fading due to sun
exposure as well as to physical wear. Bonded lettering is subject
to the strength and durability of the adhesive or other means used
to attach the lettering to a frame, and such lettering may become
detached from the frame over time.
SUMMARY
[0004] The license plate frames described herein overcome the
drawbacks of prior license plate frames through the use of recessed
areas in a frame surface and an adhered layer of material having a
contrasting color. The present frames for a vehicle license plate
include a substrate having a substantially planar surface, a
contrast layer adhered to this surface which has a contrasting
color compared with the color of the surface, and one or more
recessed portions in the substrate. The frames are preferably made
from a plastic material having a thickness of between about 120 and
about 135 thousandths of an inch, and the recessed portions in the
substrate are preferably about 50 thousandths of an inch deep. The
recessed portions meet the surface of the substrate at a
substantially non-radiused edge and form or highlight one or more
characters in the frame. The recessed portions can form complete
letters or other characters, or can in addition include a
contrasting portion to form part of a character. Such a contrasting
portion has an upper surface which is substantially coplanar with
the substantially planar surface of the substrate, and the contrast
layer is adhered to this surface. The contrasting portion can
alternatively form a complete character, in which case the recessed
portion provides a contrasting background for the character.
[0005] Such frames can be made by forming a frame body having a
substantially planar surface and at least one character formed by a
recessed surface in the frame body, and then adhering a contrast
layer to the substantially planar surface of the frame body and not
to the recessed surface. The frame body has a first color, and the
contrast layer has a second color that contrasts with the first.
Preferably, at least one recessed surface forms a complete letter
or other character. The contrast layer can be adhered through the
use of a hot stamp foil. A transfer surface of the hot stamp foil
comprising a layer of colored material is placed onto the
substantially planar surface of the frame body, after which heat
and pressure are applied to a working surface (the other side) of
the hot stamp foil, thereby forming the layer of colored material
on the substantially planar surface of the frame body. The recessed
surface and the substantially planar surface preferably meet at a
substantially non-radiused edge in order to facilitate removal of
the hot stamp foil from the surface of the frame.
[0006] In an alternative to this method, a character can be formed
by a raised surface present in a recessed surface of the frame
body. The raised surface is substantially coplanar with the
substantially planar surface of the frame body, and the contrast
layer is formed on this raised surface at the same time as on the
substantially planar surface. The recessed surface in this
embodiment can serve as a background to a character formed by the
raised surface, or alternatively the raised service can help to
form a character outlined by the recessed surface.
DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures
where:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a frame having recessed
characters.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the frame of FIG. 1 along line
2-2.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a frame having raised characters
surrounded by recessed areas of the frame.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the frame of FIG. 3 along line
4-4.
[0012] All dimensions specified in this disclosure are by way of
example only and are not intended to be limiting. Further, the
proportions shown in these Figures are not necessarily to scale. As
will be understood by those with skill in the art with reference to
this disclosure, the actual dimensions of any device or part of a
device disclosed in this disclosure will be determined by their
intended use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The vehicle license plate frames described herein provide an
improved combination of surface features and character display
features compared with prior frames. The present frames 10, for
example, comprise characters 20 formed in recessed areas 14 of a
frame body 12 which are not subject to as much wear or exposure to
the elements compared with raised lettering on a frame. The frame
body 12, for supporting or containing a vehicle license plate,
comprises a substrate 13 having a substantially planar outer
surface 15. Recessed portions 14 in the frame body 12 are molded,
cut, or otherwise formed in the substrate 13. As used herein,
"recessed portion" refers to an area of the frame body 12 having a
surface which extends below the plane of the substantially planar
surface 15 of the substrate 13, i.e. away from the substantially
planar surface 15 in the direction of the rear surface of the frame
10.
[0014] The recessed portions 14 of the frame 10 and the
substantially planar surface 15 of the substrate 13 meet and are
joined at an edge 17 of the substantially planar surface 15. The
wall or walls 18 defining the recessed portion 14 extend away from
this edge 17, preferably at an angle of less than about 90 degrees
from the substrate surface 15, such as an angle of about 85
degrees, though walls extending at a less steep angle are also
practicable with an injection molded frame. In a preferred
embodiment, a recessed portion 14 includes a base 19 comprising a
surface in the recessed portion 14 connected to the walls 18. The
base 19 can preferably be planar and parallel to the substantially
planar outer surface 15.
[0015] The material of the frame body 12, which is preferably
monochromatic, has a first color. The recessed portions 14 formed
in the frame body 12 thus have this first color. The frame body 12
further includes a layer of material 16 adhered to the
substantially planar surface 15 which has a second color that
contrasts with the first color of the frame body 12. The term
"contrast" and variations thereof is used herein to refer to colors
which can be distinguished by an average human observer with good
vision (i.e., approximately 20/20 vision, with or without
correction) in mid-day outdoor lighting conditions when placed side
by side with each other. The term "colors" refers to any hue in the
visible spectrum and includes black, white, and gray, as well as
various finishes such as matte, glossy, and metallic. Contrast
generally increases with increased difference in color wavelengths.
For example, red color having a wavelength of 700 nanometers
generally contrasts more with yellow having a wavelength of 580
nanometers than with orange having a wavelength of 620 nanometers.
When the contrasting colors are black, white and/or gray, contrast
can be measured as the difference in brightness between the
lightest and darkest shades.
[0016] The edge 17 joining the recessed portions 14 and the
substantially planar surface 15 of the substrate 13 is
substantially non-radiused, i.e. is a sharp edge. When a contrast
layer 16 is applied to the frame 10 from a transfer sheet
comprising an ink or other coloring agent, such as a hot stamp
foil, and the transfer sheet is subsequently removed from the
surface 15 of the frame, the use of a substantially non-radiused
edge results in a clean separation between the coloring agent
adhered to the frame 10 and the coloring agent remaining on the
transfer sheet. The resulting outer edge 11 of the contrast layer
16 is thereby given a generally smooth appearance. The edges 17, if
they are slightly radiused (for example, due to manufacturing
tolerances and variations), should have a radius which is less than
the depth of the recessed portion 14, that is, the distance from
the plane of the substantially planar surface 15 to the base 19 of
the recessed portion 14. Preferably the radius is less than half of
this depth, and more preferably less than a tenth of this
depth.
[0017] The characters 20 of the frame can be formed by recessed
portions 14 in the substrate 13 of the frame 10. As used herein,
the term "character" refers to any number, letter, punctuation
mark, picture or other symbol or graphic image that can be formed
by a recess in the surface of the frame body 12 and the contrast
layer 16. A character 20 can be formed completely by the recessed
portion 14, or a further contrasting portion 24 that borders or
falls within the recessed portion 14 can be used in addition to
form a character 20, as described below.
[0018] In one embodiment, the frame 10 includes one or more
discontinuous recessed portions 14, and the recessed portions 14
form either the entire character 20 or at least a portion of the
character 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a complete character
20 depicting the letter "L" (in the word DEALER) can be formed
entirely from a recessed portion 14, i.e., the boundaries of the
letter comprise the boundaries between the recessed portion 14 and
the surface of the frame substrate 13.
[0019] For some characters 20, however, a contrasting portion 24
within the character 20 is needed in order to form the character
20. For example, in order to form the letter "A" as shown in FIG.
1, a small contrasting portion 24 within the recessed portion
forming the letter is required, i.e. the roughly triangular segment
22, in order to form the recessed crossbar 23 of the letter. In
order to form such a contrasting portion 24 within the recessed
portion 14 of the character 20, the contrasting portion 24 includes
a character upper surface 26 which is substantially coplanar with
the surface 15 of the substrate 13. In this way, the same contrast
layer 16 adhered to the substrate 13 can likewise be adhered to the
character upper surface 26.
[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the contrasting portion 24
forms a complete character 20. For example, the characters 20 shown
in FIG. 3 comprise a character upper surface 26 overlayed by a
contrast layer 16 (as shown in FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the
contrasting portion 24 which forms a character 20 can be entirely
within a recessed portion 14 as shown in FIG. 3, or alternatively
the character 20 can be joined to the substrate 13 by a joining
portion (not illustrated). The recessed portion 14 in this
embodiment thus forms a background which highlights the characters
20 formed by the contrasting portion 24.
[0021] Frames are designed to provide support to the license plates
with which they are used and are generally attached to the license
plates and/or to the vehicles for which the license plates are
issued. For example, the frame 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes screw
holes 30 for receiving screws (not shown). In order to mount the
frame 10 and a license plate, the screws are placed through screw
holes 30 and then through corresponding holes provided in the
license plate. The frame 10 and license plate can then be placed
together onto the surface of a vehicle having two corresponding
holes for receiving the screws. The screws are then lined up with
the holes in the vehicle and rotated in order to screw them into
the vehicle holes.
[0022] Frames 10 can have two holes 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,
or alternatively can be provided with further holes for engaging
screws or other mounting means (or even with only one hole).
Four-hole automobile license plates and frames are commonly used.
Other ways of securing a frame 10 and license plate to a vehicle
can also be employed, though it is preferred that the frame 10 and
license plate be removably secured to a vehicle (as is the case
when screws are used).
[0023] The rear surface (not shown) of the frame 10 is in contact
with the front surface (i.e. the surface designed to be viewed) of
a license plate when the frame 10 and license plate are secured to
a vehicle. The rear surface can have attached thereto clips, hooks,
or other means for further securing the license plate to the frame
10. Additionally or alternatively, a lip (not shown) extending away
from the front surface of the frame 10 can be provided along the
periphery of the frame 10 in order to help retain a license
plate.
[0024] To form a frame 10 as described herein, a frame body 12 is
formed from a suitable material, such as plastic, i.e. a synthetic
or semisynthetic polymer material that can be molded or extruded
into objects. Preferably, a plastic material such as high impact
polystyrene or ABS is used, and the frame body 12 is injection
molded. A minimum wall thickness on the frame 10 of 0.075 inch to
0.100 inch is preferably maintained to achieve optimum filling of
the mold during the injection molding process and to minimize the
tendency of the molded part to warp.
[0025] In this embodiment, the face of the frame body 12 carrying
the characters 20 to be displayed preferably has a thickness ("t"
in FIGS. 2 and 4) of between about 120 and 135 thousandths of an
inch. While the use of a substrate 13 having a lesser thickness is
possible, this range has been found to produce a desireable visual
quality in the recessed characters 20. Recessed portions 14 formed
in frames 10 of this thickness are preferably about 50 thousandths
of an inch deep, i.e. the base 19 of such a recessed portion 14 is
about 50 thousandths of an inch from the plane of the substantially
planar surface 15 of the substrate 13. Any characters 20 formed
within such a recessed portion 14 thus preferably rise
approximately 50 thousandths of an inch high from the base 19 of
the recessed portion 14, so that the character upper surface 26 is
substantially coplanar with the surface 15 of the frame substrate
13. The characters 20 of the frame 10 are preferably formed
together with (e.g., integrally molded with) the rest of the frame
body 12, though they could also be formed afterward by cutting into
the frame body 12, such as by machine cutting.
[0026] In order to apply the contrast layer 16 to the substrate
surface 15 and any character upper surfaces 26, a hot stamp foil is
preferably brought into contact with these surfaces. As used
herein, a "hot stamp foil" refers to a transfer sheet comprising an
ink or other coloring agent in a hot melting type adhesive layer of
the transfer sheet, as is known in the art. The use of multiple
coloring agents can allow an image to be formed in the adhesive
layer. The adhesive layer itself is formed on a transfer surface of
the transfer sheet, with the opposite surface of the transfer sheet
comprising a working surface capable of withstanding the heat and
pressure required to transfer the adhesive layer to another
surface, and capable of transferring sufficient heat through the
transfer sheet for this purpose.
[0027] In order to form a contrast layer 16 on the surface 15 of a
frame body 12, the transfer surface of the hot stamp foil is placed
in contact with the substantially planar substrate surface 15, and
the working surface of the hot stamp foil is contacted by a heated
surface of approximately 400 degrees Fahrenheit which is also
capable of applying pressure, such as a roller or a hydraulic
press. Pressure of up to four tons is applied to the working
surface for several seconds, after which the hot stamp foil is
pulled away from the frame 10, leaving a layer of colored material
16 from the transfer surface of the hot stamp foil adhered to the
frame 10. When the edges 17 between the recessed portions of the
frame surface and the substantially planar portion of the frame
surface are sharp edges, the edges of the contrast layer are clean,
i.e. they conform to the edges 17 of the characters 20.
[0028] The contrast layer 16 formed by such colored material should
have a color which contrasts with the color of the substrate 13, so
that a character 20 formed in or by a recessed surface 14 in the
substrate 13 can be distinguished by a viewer. In one embodiment,
the substrate 13 is black, and the contrast layer has a metallic
color, such as chrome, silver, or gold. Preferably, the hot stamp
foil has a surface area sufficient to cover all of the
substantially planar surface 13 of the frame body 12.
[0029] The hot stamp foil and the coloring agent used in the hot
stamp foil can be any of a number of different foils and coloring
agents known to the art. For example, mylar foil containing a
silicone dye can be used. Preferably, a hot stamp foil which
creates a metallic appearance on the surface of the frame, such as
the brushed chrome foil made by ITW Foils (5 Malcolm Hout Drive,
Newburyport, Mass. 01950), is used.
[0030] Although the use of a hot stamp foil to transfer a colored
layer to a frame 10 is preferred, other methods of producing the
contrast layer 16 on the frame surface 15 can be used. The contrast
layer 16 should generally comprise an adhesive substance and a
coloring agent. The adhesive substance is one capable of holding
materials together by surface attachment. Laminating, the use of
cold stamp foils, and other methods for creating a colored surface
can also be employed to produce the contrast layer 16.
EXAMPLE 1
Frame with Characters Formed by Recessed Portions
[0031] A frame for an automobile license plate having characters
formed by the recessed portions of the frame, such as the Edge FX
frame (manufactured by Perrin Manufacturing Co., 1020 Bixby Drive,
Industry, Calif. 91745-1703), was formed. The frame body was
approximately 120 thousandths of an inch thick and was rectangular,
having two shorter parallel sides approximately 6 inches in length
and two longer parallel sides approximately 12 inches in length.
Recessed letters similar to those shown in FIG. 1 were formed in
the front surface of one of the longer sides in order to form the
word PRINCETON, while the word RUGBY was formed in the other long
side with such recessed letters. The front surface was about 1/2
wide along the shorter sides and between 5/8 of an inch and 1 inch
wide along the longer sides, the width being such as to cover the
edges of a license plate placed in the frame. Four holes for
retaining screws were formed, two in each of the longer sides.
[0032] Adhered to the front surface of the frame was a layer of
metallic colored material transferred by a hot stamp foil technique
from a brushed chrome foil made by ITW Foils. The edges between the
recessed areas of the frame surface and the substantially planar
front surface were sharp, and the walls forming the recessed areas
extended away from the front surface of the frame at approximately
an 85 degree angle. These walls extended approximately 50
thousandths of an inch from the front surface of the frame before
reaching a lower surface roughly parallel with the front surface of
the frame. The frame substrate was black in color, so the layer of
chrome-colored material contrasted with the black-colored recessed
letters.
[0033] A lip was formed around the outer periphery of the frame
body which extended toward the rear surface of the frame at
approximately a 90 degree angle to the front surface of the frame.
The lip extended approximately 5/16 of an inch from the front
surface and was approximately 1/8 of an inch thick. Two retainer
clips were formed in the lip along the longer side which comprised
the word RUGBY in order to help retain a license plate.
EXAMPLE 2
Frame with Characters Formed within a Recessed Portion
[0034] A frame having characters formed within the recessed
portions of the frame, such as the Panel FX frame (manufactured by
Perrin Manufacturing Co., 1020 Bixby Drive, Industry, Calif.
91745-1703), was formed. The frame was identical to the frame of
Example 1, except that raised letters similar to those shown in
FIG. 3 (rather than recessed letters) were formed in one of the
longer sides of the frame in order to form the word "Panel Fx",
while the words "Put Your Name Here" were formed in the other long
side with such letters. The recessed portion of the front surface
of the frame formed a black background which provided contrast to
the chrome-colored letters.
EXAMPLE 3
Manufacturing a Frame
[0035] A frame body as described in Example 1 was injection molded
from impact polystyrene with an overall nominal wall thickness of
0.135'' and a minimum wall thickness in the lettering of 0.085'' to
facilitate the filling of the part and minimize warping. A roll of
brushed chrome foil made by ITW Foils was unrolled so as to expose
an unused portion of the foil, and the transfer surface (i.e., the
surface containing the colored adhesive material) was placed into
contact with the substantially planar front surface of the frame. A
heated platen at 400 degrees Fahrenheit was pressed against the
opposite surface of the hot stamp foil for 2 seconds. The foil was
then pulled away from the frame, leaving the front surface covered
by a layer of chrome-colored adhesive material. The frame and
adhesive layer were allowed to cool for 3 seconds in order to allow
the adhesive layer to harden on the frame.
[0036] Although the present invention has been discussed in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred
embodiments, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the scope
of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of
preferred embodiments contained in this disclosure. All references
cited herein are incorporated by reference to their entirety.
* * * * *