Title: 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.
Patent Number: 6,962,013 Issued on 11/08/2005 to Perrin
| Inventors:
|
Perrin; Patrick (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
|
| Assignee:
|
Perrin Manufacturing Company (City of Industry, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
857064 |
| Filed:
|
May 28, 2004 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
40/209; D12/193 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G09F 007/00 |
| Field of Search: |
40/209
428/346
D12/193
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
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| D167885 | Oct., 1952 | Gazan.
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| D168638 | Jan., 1953 | Roper.
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| 2869261 | Jan., 1959 | Audette.
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| 3755945 | Sep., 1973 | McEwen.
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| 4924611 | May., 1990 | Shaw.
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| 5002312 | Mar., 1991 | Phillips et al.
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| 5383294 | Jan., 1995 | Shen.
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| D382241 | Aug., 1997 | Moureaux.
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| 5763052 | Jun., 1998 | Carr.
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| 5878516 | Mar., 1999 | Amirian.
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| 6180207 | Jan., 2001 | Preisler et al.
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| 6210794 | Apr., 2001 | Nakamura.
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| 6262807 | Jul., 2001 | Pleotis.
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| D466457 | Dec., 2002 | Wang.
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| D474724 | May., 2003 | Wang.
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| D485522 | Jan., 2004 | Ohm.
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| 2001/0023011 | Sep., 2001 | Preisler et al.
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| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
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| |
| 0 488 484 | Aug., 1991 | EP.
| |
Primary Examiner: Hoge; Gary C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fedrick; Michael, Sheldon; Jeffrey G., Sheldon & Mak
Claims
1. 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 formed by a recessed
surface in 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 recessed surface, wherein the second color contrasts with the first color.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one recessed surface forms a complete character.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the recessed surface and the substantially
planar surface meet at a substantially non-radiused edge.
4. 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 formed by a recessed
surface in 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 recessed surface, wherein the second color contrasts with the first
color, by:
(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.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hot stamp foil has a surface area sufficient
to cover the substantially planar surface of the frame body.
6. 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:
(i) a substantially planar surface; and
(ii) a character formed in a recessed surface in the frame body, and wherein
the character comprises an upper surface; 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 to the upper surface of the character but not to the recessed surface, wherein
the second color contrasts with the first color.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the recessed surface joins the substantially
planar surface of the frame body at a substantially non-radiused edge.
8. 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:
(i) a substantially planar surface; and
(ii) a character formed in a recessed surface in the frame body, wherein the
character comprises an upper surface; 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 to the upper surface of the character but not to the recessed surface, wherein
the second color contrasts with the first color, by:
(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.
Description
BACKGROUND
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a frame having recessed characters.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the frame of FIG. 1 along line 2—2.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a frame having raised characters surrounded by recessed
areas of the frame.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the frame of FIG. 3 along line 4—4.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 111 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 ½' wide along the
shorter sides and between ⅝ 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.
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.
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 ⅛ 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
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
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.
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.
*
