GB2210491A

GB2210491A - Display plates

Info

Publication number: GB2210491A
Application number: GB8722994A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Starmer
Original assignee: METRO PRODUCTS
Current assignee: METRO PRODUCTS
Priority date: 1987-09-30
Filing date: 1987-09-30
Publication date: 1989-06-07
Also published as: GB8722994D0

Abstract

An L-plate or another type of display plate is provided with fasteners 1, 2, Fig. 2 comprising hooked components which can be secured to the plate and a vehicle respectively to permit the plate to be secured in position by pushing the fastening components together. Alternatively, elasticated ties 3, Fig. 3a may be used. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY PLATES This inventIon relates to display plates for attachment to vehicles.

The invention is applicable for example to L-plates indicating a learner driver and the invention will be more particularly described with reference thereto.

L-plates are customarily tied in place, e.g. to the bumpers of the vehicle. It is not very easy to tie them firmly. They oft work loose so that the L symbol is no longer properly displayed. Sometimes the plates fall off. In any caee the job of tying and untying the plates is a nuisance.

According t.o the invention an L-plate or another type of display plate is associated with at least one fastener for fastening the plate to a vehicle, such fastener comprising a first component which is populated with hooked or barbed projections and a second component which co-operates with said fist component and which has surface elements which when the components are pushed together are engaged by such hooked or barbed projections so that the components are resistant to unintentional separation but can be separated by peeling.

The surface elements of the second component may also be in the form of hooked or barbed projections.

A suitable fastener for use according to the invention is for example one formed by fastening material marketed under the trade mark "Velcro".

A particularly suitable fastener is a hook and loop fastener currently marketed as industrial strength "Velcro" (trade mark). The fastening face of one component of such material is populated with barbed projections and the co--operating face of the other component is covered with a matt or pile of fine filaments.

Preferably the fastener components have coatings of adhesive by which they can be secured to the plate and to part (e.g. a bumper) of a vehicle respectively.

Preferably the adhesive coating on at least one of the components has a protective covering member which can be peeled off to expose the adhesive when required.

The plate ss preferably associated with two fasteners which are horizontally spaced within the width of the plate.

A plate and fastener combination according to the invention can be marketed in assembled or partly assembled state, the or each fastener or one component of the or each fastern, already attached to the plate. This ensures that the fastener(s) is or are used at what the supplier considers to be the most suitable position(s) on the plate. Alternatively the plate and fastener(s) can be marketed in a pack wherein the plate and fastener(s) are in separated state. In that case if pressure-sensitive adhesive coatings are present on both components of th or each fastener, both such coatings will be provided with protective members.

An L-plate pack according to the invention will of course normally comprise two L-plates and sufficient fasteners for fastening both plates to a vehicle.

One embodiment of the invention as above defined is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figs. la and ib show an L-plate in front and rear view and Fig. 2 shows the way the plate can be attached t O a vehicle by means of the fasteners.

Referring to Fig. 1, two fastener components 1 and 2 are secured to the rear face of the L-plate by pressure-sensitire adhesive, pre-coated onto those components. The co-operating fastening compoinents 1' and 2' are secured to a vehicle bumper. In order to ensure that the components 1' and 2' are in correct positions for registering with the components 1 and 2 the user, when first applying the L-plate, can start with the components 1,1' and 2,2' fastened together. Then, after peeling away the protective members covering the adhesive coatings on the omponents 1 and 2', the assembly can be pressed firmly 2gainst the bumber in the required position to cause the components 1' and 2' to adhere to the bumper. The plate is thereby firmly secured to the vehicle.The plate, which is at least slightly flexible, can be removed at any time simply by strongly pulling the plate away from the vehicle, the separating force being preferably exerted at one margin of the plate so that peeling forces are thereby transmitted to the fasteners.

As the plate is removed, the fastener components 1 and 2 remain secured to the vehicle in the correct positions ready for reattachment of the plate to the vehicle when required.

The fasteners used in the illustrated example are industrial strength "Velcro" (trade mark) fasteners as previously referred to.

According tz a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an "T," or other display plate for attachment to a vehicle, sad plate having elasticated ties which are or can be thi:eaded through holes in opposite margins of the plate to form attachment loops, the ties having end tags which prevent unintentional unthreading.

The lengths of the ties are preferably such that they can be wrapped around the bumpers of most road vehicles for securing the plate thereto. If in relation to any given bumper, the ties are too long for the loops elastically to grip the bumper, the ties can easily be shortened by knotting side hanks in the ties.

An embodiment of the invention in its said second aspect is illustrated in Figs 3a and 3b. Fig. 3a shows an L-plate viewed from the rear and shows how the elasticated ties 3 are coupled to the plate to hold it to a vehicle bumper. Fig. 3b shows the plate so held for use.

Claims

1. An L-plate rr another type of display plate is associated with t least one fastener for fastening the plate to a vehic. e, such fastener comprising a first component which 5 populated with hooked or barbed projections and econd component which co-operates with said fist componcnt and which has surface elements which when the compone,lts are pushed together are engaged by such projections so that the components are resistant to unintentional separation but can be separated by peeling.

2. A plate according to claim 1, wherein the surface elements of the second component are also in the form of hooked or barbed projections.

3. A plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each fastener is a fastener as marketed under the trade mark "Velcro" (p-eferably industrial strength "Velcro").

4. A plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the fastener components have coatings of adhesive by which they can b secured to the plate and to part (e.g.

a bumber) of a vehicle respectively.

5. A plate according to any preceding claim, associated with two said fasteners which are horizontally spaced within the width of the plate.

6. An L-plate package containing an L-plate and associated fastener(s) as claimed in any preceding claim (preferably in two sets).

7. A package According to claim 6, wherein the or each fastener or one component of the or each fastener is already attached to the plate.

8. An L or other display plate for attachment to a vehicle, said plate having elasticated ties which are or can be threaded through holes in opposite margins of the plate to form attachment loops, the ties having end tags which prevent unintentional unthreading.