# US 2013/0152439 A1 · Cover for floor-located vehicle identification number > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152439 A1 - Document ID: US20130152439A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/326,692 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Marek Myszkowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152439A1 ## CPC - B60N 3/042: {of carpets (B60N3/046, B60N3/048 take precedence)} - B60R 13/0275: {comprising removable or hinged parts (for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215)} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Improved covers for floor-located vehicle identification numbers (VINs) are disclosed. Exemplary VIN cover embodiments may be of a simple one-piece design and may include tabs or other retention elements along underside edges thereof. The retention elements engage the vehicle carpet and trap the carpet when the cover is installed into a VIN viewing window provided in the carpet. The underside of the cover may also include a carpet gripping mechanism that engages the carpet surface and helps to maintain the position of the cover after installation. A section of vehicle carpet removed to permit viewing of the VIN may optionally be retained and installed to the underside of the cover so as to reside in the window area when the cover is in place. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cover for a floor-located vehicle identification number (VIN), comprising: a cover body; an upstanding wall extending from an underside of the cover body and located to enter a VIN viewing window located in a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed; at least one carpet retention element extending from the cover body, the at least one carpet retention element adapted to trap a portion of a vehicle carpet between the at least one carpet retention element and the cover body so as to removably secure the cover to the vehicle carpet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is of substantially rectangular shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the upstanding wall traces a path that substantially mimics the shape of a VIN viewing window located in a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one carpet retention element is at least one carpet retention tab that projects at least partially transversely from the upstanding wall and is located and adapted to trap a backing layer and pile layer of a vehicle carpet against an underside of the cover body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one carpet retention element is a plurality of carpet retention tabs located and adapted to trap a backing layer and pile layer of a vehicle carpet against an underside of the cover body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the plurality of carpet retention tabs are located on opposing sides of the upstanding wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, further comprising a carpet gripping structure located on an underside of the cover body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cover of claim 8, wherein the carpet gripping structure includes a plurality of pointed projections that are adapted to penetrate at least partially into a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is shaped and dimensioned to fit within a VIN cover recess formed around a VIN viewing window in a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed. ### Claim 11 A removable cover for a floor-located vehicle identification number (VIN) viewable through a window provided in an overlying vehicle carpet, comprising: a substantially planar cover body; and a carpet engaging structure on an underside of the cover body, the carpet engaging structure including: an upstanding wall extending from an underside of the cover body and located to enter a VIN viewing window located in a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed, and at least one carpet retention tab extending from the cover body, the at least one carpet retention tab having a portion that projects at least partially transversely away from the upstanding wall to trap a portion of a vehicle carpet between the at least one carpet retention tab and the cover body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cover of claim 11, wherein the cover is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The cover of claim 11, wherein the cover body is of substantially rectangular shape and is dimensioned to fit within a VIN cover recess formed around a VIN viewing window in a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The cover of claim 11, wherein the upstanding wall traces a path that substantially mimics the shape of a VIN viewing window located in a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The cover of claim 11, wherein a plurality of carpet retention tabs are located on opposing sides of the upstanding wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The cover of claim 11, further comprising a carpet gripping structure located on an underside of the cover body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cover of claim 16, wherein the carpet gripping structure includes a plurality of pointed projections that are adapted to penetrate at least partially into a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed. ### Claim 18 A removable cover for a floor-located vehicle identification number (VIN) viewable through a window provided in an overlying vehicle carpet, comprising: a substantially planar cover body; a carpet engaging structure on an underside of the cover body, the carpet engaging structure including: an upstanding wall extending from an underside of the cover body, the upstanding wall adapted to enter, and to trace a path that substantially mimics the shape of, a VIN viewing window located in a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed, a plurality of carpet retention tabs extending from an underside of the cover body along opposing sides of the upstanding wall, the plurality of carpet retention tabs having a portion that extends at least partially transversely away from the upstanding wall to trap a portion of the vehicle carpet between the carpet retention tabs and the cover body; and a carpet gripping structure in the form of plurality of pointed projections located on an underside of the cover body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The cover of claim 18, wherein the cover is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The cover of claim 18, wherein the cover body is of substantially rectangular shape and is dimensioned to fit within a VIN cover recess formed around a VIN viewing window in a vehicle carpet to which the cover will be installed.