GB2339051A

GB2339051A - vehicle Number Plate Security Cover

Info

Publication number: GB2339051A
Application number: GB9813958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Hoyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-30
Filing date: 1998-06-30
Publication date: 2000-01-12
Also published as: GB9813958D0

Description

2339051 This invention relates to a Vehicle Security Device.

There are many vehicle security systems aiming to prevent unauthorised persons entering or moving vehicles, or to alert people of the unauthorised persons actions. Many vehicle security systems, however, once 1hey have been overcome, offer no further deterrent.

According to the present invention there is provided a solid nontransparent cover to obscure all or part of a Vehicle Registration Number Plate. There are means for locking the cover into position and for unlocking it for it's removal The invention would be ideal for off-road parking such as peoples homes, car parks and work premises, where the driving of the vehicle away on the road would draw the attention of the public and police to it's unauthorised use.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure I shows the cover; Figure 2 shows a casing to which the cover could be attached.

Refierring to the drawing, the Vehicle Security Device comprises a solid nontransparent cover L The cover I may be releasably secured by means of a lock 2, catch or other securing device. The cover I may have locks 2 at one or more sides, which operate horizontally and/or vertically and/or diagonally.

The cover 1 will cover all or part of a registration number plate and may overlap the casing 3 to cover the locks 2. It may have writing, symbols or a reflective front to indicate the vehicles unauthorised state, It may display a Fleet Number or even the Registration Number in a different format, such as in a different colour.

Figure 2 shows a means of securing the cover I b ' v the addition of a casing 3. This would fit behind the number plate and protrude 4 at opposite ends. These protrusions 4 contain holes into which the cover I may be secured by inserting either a lock 2 or a protrusion 5 of the cover I itself, effectively sandwiching the number plate between the cover I and the casing 3.

The cover I and casing 2 may be of vatious shapes and sizes according to the various shapes and sizes of number plates and the different locations of their illuminating lights.

The casing 3 may have lips 6 around all or part of it's edges to further secure the number plate.

1.

The casing 3 may be in one or more pieces and attached to the vehicle and/or number plate by an appropriate means such as screws or glue. One example of this is shown in Fig. 2, where the casing 3 is in one piece and the screws holding the number plate into position also pass through holes 7 in the casing 3 thereby locking them both into position.

If the casing 3, however was in two separate pieces, each attached directly to the number plate at either end then this would facilitate the breaking of the number plate if the cover I was forciblv removed.

On new vehicles the cover I could be used independently of the casing 3, by locking into insertion holes provided in the vehicle body itseLf, or locks in the vehicle body fitting into insertion holes provided in the cover 1.

On large vehicles a separate casing 3 or other locking point could be provided to locate The cover I when not in use.

As well as operating on mechanically propelled vehicles this device could also provide a visible deterrent on other vehicles, such as caravans and trailers. It is a device which is relatively inexpensive and simple to fit and could result in either the breaking or total removal of the number plate if the cover I was forcibly removed.

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Claims

I A solid non-transparent cover to obscure all or part of a Vehicle Number Plate with means for releasably securing it into position.
2 A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lock, catch or other securing device operates horizontally and/or diagonally and/or vertically to lock it into position.
3 A cover as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 into which locks or other securing devices may be inserted.
4 A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cover may have writing, symbols or a reflective front to indicate the vehicles unauthorised state or identity.
A cover as claimed in claim 1,2 and 4 and a means of securing it into position as illustrated in Figure 2.
6 A cover and casing substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
7 A method of identifying the unauthorised use of a vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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