Plural Or Sectional Patents (Class 40/206)
  • Patent number: 9805632
    Abstract: A lighted display for mounting upon a vehicle having a trailer hitch receiver. The lighted display includes an elongated base member with a trailer hitch mount affixed midway along the base member. The base member also incorporates a horizontal step plate extending outward from upper edge of the base member allowing easier access to the rear of the vehicle. The base member is configured to receive multiple lighting elements within an elongated vertical channel. The lighting elements are connected to a trailer wiring plug which is configured to engage the vehicles trailer wiring connector. A message board is positioned within the vertical channel of the base member. The message board is made of a semi-translucent material which allows a portion of the light from the lighting elements to pass. The message board is partially masked with an opaque material, the unmasked portions forming the desired message for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: James Randall Frost
  • Patent number: 9035547
    Abstract: An electroluminescent arrangement is described. This electroluminescent arrangement comprises the following functional layers: (a) rear electrode as layer A; (b) dielectric layer as layer B; (c) electroluminescent layer as layer C; and (d) cover electrode as layer D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: EFL Holdings Tech B.V.
    Inventors: Thilo-Josef Werners, Michael Heite, Helmut Mäuser
  • Patent number: 8887421
    Abstract: A multi-image license plate assembly having a series of horizontally disposed rotating display members operably controlled by a rotational drive mechanism. The drive mechanism can be a series of gears, pulleys, belts, chains, a worm gear assembly, or other means. The horizontally disposed rotating display members rotated about a horizontal axis. The rotating display members preferably have three image surfaces. An image is segmented, with each segment applied to a respective image surface of each of the display members, such that when the image surfaces are aligned, the complete image is displayed. The image can be applied directly to the rotating member or applied to an insert. An adapter mount is provided for fastening the multi-image license plate assembly to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Halula
  • Patent number: 8250793
    Abstract: A multi-image license plate assembly having a series of horizontally disposed rotating display members operably controlled by a rotational drive mechanism. The drive mechanism can be a series of gears, pulleys, belts, chains, a worm gear assembly, or other means. The horizontally disposed rotating display members rotated about a horizontal axis. The rotating display members preferably have three image surfaces. An image is segmented, with each segment applied to a respective image surface of each of the display members, such that when the image surfaces are aligned, the complete image is displayed. The image can be applied directly to the rotating member or applied to an insert. An adapter mount is provided for fastening the multi-image license plate assembly to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Halula
  • Patent number: 8016467
    Abstract: The present invention provides a license plate assembly comprising: (i) a housing comprising a back plate and upstanding side walls defining a cavity; (ii) a light guide having first and second major sides that are opposite to each other and one or more side faces defining a thickness of side light guide, said light guide being disposed in said housing and being arranged on said back plate of said housing; (iii) a light source mounted along one or more side faces of said light guide; (iv) a transparent and retroreflective license plate mounted on said first major side of said light guide; and wherein a cushioning layer is provided between said back plate of said housing and said light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Arnold Eberwein
  • Patent number: 6779914
    Abstract: A licence plate adapted for illumination, which has an opaque face plate having outward-facing and inward-facing faces, and cut-out areas corresponding to numerals, letter, symbols or designs; and a translucent, heat-deformable backing plate heat-pressed against the inward-facing face of the face plate to force portions of the backing plate into the cut-out areas, such that when the licence plate is illuminated from a point inward of the backing plate, the portions of the backing plate within the cut-out areas are illuminated for viewing from a point outward of the face plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventors: Arai Katsuo, Enomoto Toshinori, Bounnakhone J. Suyavong, Kham Jimmy Chounpanh
  • Patent number: 6243977
    Abstract: A knockdown license plate frame. The frame includes upper, lower, left and right members which can be freely assembled as desired in order to improve the appearance of a license plate of a motorcycle or a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Janchy Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun Tian Shuen
  • Patent number: 5542200
    Abstract: A number plate including luminous characters is usually mounted below head lamps of a vehicle. As essential components, this number plate includes a front plate having a plurality of character portions punched therefrom a plurality of characters each molded of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin and adhesively fitted into the character portions, a plurality of electroluminescent plates disposed on the rear surface side of the front plate so as to illuminate the character portions, a DC/AC inverter disposed on the bottom side of a case of the number plate and electrically connected to the electroluminescent plate and a power source, a plurality of base boards each fitted to an electroluminescent plate and having the substantially same area as that of each character portion, and a support portion for supporting the base boards thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: World Auto Plate, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 5149571
    Abstract: A multi ply laminae which provides weather resistance, tamper resistance and is a sturdy and legible temporary license plate. A printed serialized plate is affixed by a pressure sensitive adhesive to the upper portion of a transparent polymeric sheet by removing the protective liner and affixing the back of the plate to the polymeric sheet. An expiration date is applied to the face of the plate and the protective liner is removed from the bottom portion of the transparent polymeric sheet and the bottom portion of the transparent polymeric sheet is folded along a perforated portion centered on the transparent polymeric sheet sealing the upper portion to the bottom portion forming the temporary plate which is attached to a motor vehicle through the retention receptors in any conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Inventor: Richard C. Croell
  • Patent number: 4255887
    Abstract: The disclosed illuminant display device is to be used on a motor vehicle for publicity or other purposes. In the device an opaque plate member contains perforations in the shape of a character or figure to be displayed, and tinted translucent pieces are set in the perforations transmit light which is projected from a light source provided behind the perforated plate. The display device can serve as an illuminant license plate which is arranged to illuminate the identifying characters continuously for a predetermined time period after the headlight or parking light of the motor vehicle has been turned off and thereby foil a driver who tries to conceal the identity of the vehicle by turning off the lights for hit-and-run or other unlawful purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: Nihon Number Plate Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsunosuke Murai