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US 11,124,161 B2Granted
Heated license plate system
OwnerRobert Anthony Orazeminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heated license plate holder, includes a frame configured to hold a license plate, the frame comprising an electrically-insulative planar surface, a heating element thermally responsive to an application of electrical power and disposed on the electrically-insulative planar surface, an electrically-insulative layer disposed on a top side of the heating element, and an electrical circuit for applying electrical power to the heating element.
Claims9
A heated license plate holder, comprising:
- a license plate frame configured to hold a license plate, the license plate frame comprising four frame edges, four mounting holes, and an electrically-insulative planar surface within the four frame edges;
- a power source connected to an electrical circuit and a heating element in order to supply electrical power for operating the heated license plate holder;
- the heating element thermally responsive to the electrical power and comprising nichrome, cupronickel, kanthal, or molybdenum disilicide, the heating element disposed on the electrically-insulative planar surface and within the four frame edges;
- an electrically-insulative layer comprising a first insulative layer and a second insulative layer, the heating element sandwiched between the first and second insulative layers, the electrically-insulative layer comprising a polymer and defining four mounting holes that are substantially aligned with the four mounting holes of the license plate frame;
- fastening devices comprising bolts or screws configured to pass through the four mounting holes of the license plate frame and the four mounting holes of the electrically-insulative layer;
- an exterior surface light for directing light onto an exterior surface of the heated license plate holder or license plate frame, wherein the exterior surface light is powered by a separate power source mounted on the license plate holder or an underlying vehicle;
- and
- the electrical circuit comprising an optical sensor, the electrical circuit configured for automatically initiating the application of electrical power to the heating element in response to an amount of light sensed by the optical sensor,
- wherein the electrical circuit comprises a user control and an electronic control unit,
- wherein the electronic control unit comprises a timer shutoff function for automatically stopping the application of the electrical power to the heating element to prevent overheating.
7 more elements
A heated license plate holder, comprising:
- a license plate frame configured to hold a license plate, the license plate frame comprising four frame edges, four mounting holes, and an electrically-insulative planar surface within the four frame edges;
- a power source connected to an electrical circuit and a heating element in order to supply electrical power for operating the heated license plate holder;
- the heating element thermally responsive to the electrical power and comprising nichrome, cupronickel, kanthal, or molybdenum disilicide, the heating element disposed on the electrically-insulative planar surface and within the four frame edges;
- an electrically-insulative layer comprising a first insulative layer and a second insulative layer, the heating element sandwiched between the first and second insulative layers, the electrically-insulative layer comprising a polymer and defining four mounting holes that are substantially aligned with the four mounting holes of the license plate frame;
- fastening devices comprising bolts or screws configured to pass through the four mounting holes of the license plate frame and the four mounting holes of the electrically-insulative layer;
- an exterior surface light for directing light onto an exterior surface of the heated license plate holder or license plate frame, wherein the exterior surface light is powered by a separate power source mounted on the license plate holder or an underlying vehicle;
- and
- the electrical circuit comprising a device for sensing a change in resistance or capacitance caused by a presence of water, ice or snow, the electrical circuit configured to automatically initiate the application of the electrical power to the heating element in response to a detection of the presence of water, ice or snow by the device,
- wherein the electrical circuit comprises a user control and an electronic control unit,
- wherein the electronic control unit comprises a timer shutoff function for automatically stopping the application of the electrical power to the heating element to prevent overheating.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.