# US 10,308,173 B2 · Illuminated plate for motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,173 B2 - Document ID: US10308173B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/043,090 - Filed: 2018-07-23 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-28 - Assignees: Nozomu Hope SHIGAKI - Applicants: Nozomu Hope Shigaki - Inventors: Nozomu Hope Shigaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308173B2 ## CPC - B60Q 1/56: for illuminating registrations or the like {, e.g. for licence plates} - B60R 13/10: Registration, licensing, or like devices - B60R 13/105: {Licence- or registration plates, provided with mounting means, e.g. frames, holders, retainers, brackets} - G09F 13/06: using individual cut-out symbols or cut-out silhouettes, e.g. perforated signs - G09F 13/22: electroluminescent (electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00) - G09F 21/048: {Advertisement panels on sides, front or back of vehicles} - G09F 13/044: {Signs, boards or panels mounted on vehicles} - G09F 2013/227: {Electroluminescent displays for vehicles} - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS ## Abstract An illuminated plate for motor vehicles includes: a base sheet; an electroluminescent sheet; a background sheet which is transparent, translucent, or reflective, and which has a cutout section constituted by openings shaped in characters for display; character inserts which are transparent or translucent and shaped in the characters, which character inserts are infixed in the corresponding openings of the characters in the cutout section; and a clear cover sheet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An illuminated plate for motor vehicles, comprising: a base sheet configured to be mounted to a motor vehicle; an electroluminescent sheet for providing illumination configured to be connected to an inverter, said electroluminescent sheet being overlaid on the base sheet; a background sheet which is transparent, translucent, or reflective, and which has a cutout section constituted by openings shaped in two or more figures for display, said background sheet being overlaid on the electroluminescent sheet; character insert sheets which are flat and transparent or translucent and shaped in the said two or more figures, said character insert sheets being infixed in the corresponding openings of the two or more figures in the cutout section, wherein the background sheet and the character insert sheets have different transparent colors and shades, wherein the background sheet and the character insert sheets have substantially the same thickness which is in a range of about 50 μm to about 1,000 μm, wherein the character insert sheets and the corresponding openings of the two or more figures have substantially same dimensional figures; a clear underlying sheet to which the background sheet and the character inserts adhere in a manner that the background sheet and the character inserts are overlaid on the electroluminescent sheet via the clear underlying sheet; and a clear cover sheet which is overlaid on the background sheet and the character insert sheets for protection so that the character insert sheets and the background sheet are visible through the clear cover sheet, wherein a backside of each of the electroluminescent sheet, the background sheet, the character insert sheets, the clear underlying sheet, and the clear cover sheet has a pressure-sensitive permanent adhesive layer for adhering to its corresponding underlying sheet, all the sheets being integrated together by pressing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent sheet is constituted by a laminate containing a phosphor layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, wherein the background sheet is transparent or translucent, and includes a print layer formed thereon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The illuminated plate according to claim 3, wherein the print layer on the background sheet is formed by thermal transfer printing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, wherein the background sheet is reflective and includes a print layer formed thereon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, wherein the background sheet is made of polyester. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, wherein the character insert sheets are made of vinyl. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, wherein the two or more figures for display formed in the background sheet are license plate numbers of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, wherein the two or more figures for display formed in the background sheet are those indicating vehicle dealer identification. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, wherein the base sheet is made of fiberglass. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The illuminated plate according to claim 1, further comprising the inverter which is a 12-volt DC input inverter. ### Claim 12 An illuminated dealer plate temporarily installed to a motor vehicle in place of a license plate, comprising: a base sheet configured to be mounted to a motor vehicle; an electroluminescent sheet for providing illumination configured to be connected to an inverter, said electroluminescent sheet being overlaid on the base sheet; a dealer sheet which is transparent, translucent, or reflective, and which includes a print layer formed thereon, said dealer sheet being overlaid on the electroluminescent sheet, said dealer sheet having a cutout section constituted by openings shaped in two or more figures for display; character insert sheets which are flat and transparent or translucent and shaped in the said two or more figures, said character insert sheets being infixed in the corresponding openings of the two or more figures in the cutout section, wherein the dealer sheet and the character insert sheets have different transparent colors and shades, wherein the dealer sheet and the character insert sheets have substantially the same thickness which is in a range of about 50 μm to about 1,000 μm, wherein the character insert sheets and the corresponding openings of the two or more figures have substantially same dimensional figures; a clear underlying sheet to which the dealer sheet and the character inserts adhere in a manner that the dealer sheet and the character inserts are overlaid on the electroluminescent sheet via the clear underlying sheet; and a clear cover sheet which is overlaid on the dealer sheet for protection so that the dealer sheet with the print layer is visible through the clear cover sheet' wherein a backside of each of the electroluminescent sheet, the dealer sheet, the character insert sheets, the clear underlying sheet, and the clear cover sheet has a pressure-sensitive permanent adhesive layer for adhering to its corresponding underlying sheet, all the sheets being integrated together by pressing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The illuminated dealer plate according to claim 12, wherein the print layer on the dealer sheet is formed by thermal transfer printing.