License plate transport mechanism
AssigneeAltec Products, Inc.
InventorsBrian K. Stahel, Paul H. Plahn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A license plate transport mechanism includes a mounting bracket connectable beneath a vehicle support structure, such as a front bumper of a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes an elongate track with a pivot pin for pivotally mounting a license plate mounting plate. When the mounting plate is at a first end of the track, it pivots to a vertical position that is generally perpendicular to a base of the mounting bracket to display the license plate. The mounting plate is pivotable to a horizontal position generally parallel to the mounting bracket base. Once in the horizontal position, the pivot pin and mounting plate can move toward a second end of the track to store the license plate underneath the vehicle support structure.
Claims11
A license plate transport mechanism mountable to a vehicle support structure, the license plate transport mechanism comprising:
- a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising a base having a length and a width and a track extending the length of the base along opposite sides of the base, the base configured for connection to a lower surface of the vehicle support structure;
- a pivot pin carried in the track of the mounting bracket;
- and
- a mounting plate having a front surface configured for mounting a license plate and a rear surface facing the pivot pin, the mounting plate being pivotally connected to the pivot pin and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the mounting plate extends generally perpendicular to a first end of the mounting bracket when the pivot pin is adjacent the first end of the mounting bracket so as to cover the mounting bracket, and wherein in the second position the mounting plate pivots to a position generally parallel to the mounting bracket base with the mounting plate front surface facing away from the lower surface of the vehicle support structure, the pivot pin movable to a second end of the mounting bracket when the mounting plate is in the second position.
A license plate transport mechanism comprising:
- a pivot pin;
- a mounting bracket having a base mountable to a lower surface of a vehicle support structure, the mounting bracket comprising means for supporting the pivot pin for linear movement from a first end of the mounting bracket to a second end of the mounting bracket;
- and
- a mounting plate having a front surface configured for mounting a license plate and a rear surface facing the pivot pin, the mounting plate being pivotally connected to the pivot pin and movable between a first position generally perpendicular to the mounting bracket so as to cover the mounting bracket and a second position generally parallel to the mounting bracket with the mounting plate front surface facing away from the lower surface of the vehicle support structure, the mounting plate being movable between the first and second positions when the pivot pin is at the first end of the mounting bracket, wherein in the pivot pin is moveable to the second end of the mounting bracket when the mounting plate is in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.