FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE based oh Polycarbonate or Acrylic sheet, metal frame, LED emitter, illuminated vehicle registration number, illuminated security thread line, illuminated biometric identification number of the vehicle owner, mechanical circuit breaker for LED light circuit, illuminated country marking, specially designed fixing bolt and the process of manufacture thereof.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1.65 Lakhs vehicles stolen in India In 2013 - Times of India 28/12/2014.

Every 45 seconds a motor vehicle is stolen in USA, an estimated 721,053 vehicles or 229.7 per 100,000 inhabitants were stolen in 2012. More than USD 4.3 billion was lost due to vehicle theft in 2012 In USA. Uruguay has the highest auto theft rate in the world at 437.6 per 100,000 residents in 2012. Some cities such as Newark, J had an auto theft rate of 1420.6 in 201 .

An extremely scary picture even in 21 ^st century.The advancement in automobile technology and the use of GPS tracking devices, high technology vehicle immobilizer failed to prevent the rising vehicle theft worldwide. The use of hologram, bar code, tamperproof screws, stainless steel lock for license plate Jias some impact but far from eliminating or reducing the menace. Insufficient lighting of license plate is another grey area which allows the vehicle to flee after committing a crime at dark. The conventional license plate concept with all the theft prevention measures over the years proved inadequate in the face of growing vehicle theft. It is evident from the above that a new concept license plate is the need to eliminate the vehicle theft and long list of crimes based on vehicle theft.

OBJECT OF INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention " ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE " is to eradicate vehicle theft, prevent tampering of license plate, prevent removal & replacement of license plate, easy & complete visibility of registration number even in dark from a distance, easy identification of the stolen vehicle anywhere across the country and beyond, easy identification of the vehicle owner and to make a simple low cost foolproof & independent system to challenge vehicle theft & consequent crime.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" uses illumination of license plate through vehicle ignition circuit as a tool to identify the vehicle and prevent vehicle theft. The license plate is illuminated at the start of the vehicle and remains illuminated till ignition is switched off. The illumination of license plate provides registration details and non illumination raises doubt and calls for verification. The license plate is virtually impossible to tamper, remove or replace. The present invention is a LED illuminated metal framed Polycarbonate / acrylic sheet of three layer formation. The first and second sheet layers are transparent.

The third or background sheet layer is a coloured one. The vehicle registration number, biometric identification number ( like Aadhaar in India ) of the vehicle owner, country marking etc. are reverse printed on second transparent sheet layer which also consists of the illuminated security thread line across the registration number. Transparent front or first sheet layer is for clear visibility of printed matter. Background sheet layer is made of a white, yellow, blue, red or any other colour as per vehicle registration authority of the concerned country. The three layer polycarbonate or acrylic sheets are framed from all the four sides with Aluminium / Brass / Copper frame. The LED emitters are suitably placed inside the metal frame to provide adequate illumination to the printed matter. The LED emitters are encapsulated in a polymer system to make it permanently bonded with the metal frame to absorb any amount of shock from moving vehicle as well as to make it waterproof. All the three polycarbonate or acrylic sheets are permanently bonded with the metal frame through a epoxy based adhesive.. The metal framed license plate is fixed with vehicle body with two (2) numbers of specially designed bolt & nut. The bolts with its head are with the vehicle body and the threaded side passes through the license plate for final fixing or tightening by nuts. The bolts are designed with a suitably positioned hole or slot across the diameter of the bolt. A straight mild steel wire electrically insulated except 25mm - 50 mm from both ends is inserted horizontally through a hole on side-metal frame and pass through the holes of both the fixing bolts to reach the metal frame at opposite end. The mild steel wire is placed between 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd layer sheet and is not visible from outside. Both the side metal frames are fitted with permanent magnets from inside just below the frame hole position. The magnets are attached with LED terminals and are not visible from outside. The magnets pull the un insulated portion of mild steel wire when dropped from the frame hole to the LED terminal to complete the LED light circuit. The LED light circuit is open till the mild steel wire is inserted and license plate is fixed with the vehicle. After fixing the license plate on vehicle body, the hole on the metal frame through which the mild steel wire is inserted is permanently closed by epoxy adhesive. The mild steel wire has two function i) completing the LED light circuit of the license plate. H) prevents removal of fixing bolts from vehicle body. The bolts now work as a mechanical circuit breaker of the LED light circuit as any attempt to unscrew or remove the bolt would break or damage the mild steel wire and snap the LED light circuit. The license plate has optional Daytime Running Light (DRL) and indicator light facility. Snapped or damaged LED light circuit cannot be restored without breaking the license plate. The present invention "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROQF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" makes the verification process for the vehicle and its owner quick & easy in the event of theft, crime and smuggling, crossing of state and international borders, drug or human trafficking as well as malfunctioning of LED lights. The manufacture of the "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" is not possible without a proper manufacturing set up and skilled personnel. It can be said to be a virtually foolproof license plate to prevent theft and related crimes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Fig. - 1 shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein the transparent polycarbonate / acrylic sheet is reverse printed with country marking, vehicle registration number, biometric identification number in red, day time running light and probable position of fixing holes .

Fig. - 2 shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein illuminated security thread line is formed by joining two pieces of transparent acrylic sheets and utilizing edge lighting phenomenon of acrylic sheet. When LED emitter is placed under bottom edge or above top edge of the acrylic sheet light emits from other edges of the acrylic sheet.

Fig.- 3 shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein white polycarbonate / acrylic sheet as background sheet. Fig - 4 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein top metal frame mounted with white LED emitters.

Fig. - 5 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein LED emitter mounted inside the metal frame is encapsulated first with silicone and then with epoxy to prevent damage of LED emitter from vehicle generated shock and harmful effect of water, moisture, dust and dirt.

Fig. - 6 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein bottom metal frame is mounted with white LED emitters for vehicle registration number, country marking and daytime running light , red LED emitter for biometric identification number and amber LED emitter for side indicator light (optional)

Fig.- 7 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein side metal frames fitted with permanent magnets just below the through holes. The permanent magnets are attached with LED light terminals. The insulated steel wire connecting the terminals when inserted and dropped from the hole and pulled by the magnet.

Fig - 8 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein the 3mm - 5mm gap between the white background polycarbonate / acrylic sheet and reverse printed adhesive bonded polycarbonate / acrylic sheet which is aligned with fixing bolts holes and side frame hole. The steei wire passes through the fixing bolt holes positioned in the gap and pulled by the magnets to complete the LED light circuit.

Fig. -9 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEH8CLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein metal frames and specially designed fixing bolts with hole are in fixing position. Steel wire inserted from side metal frame hole passes through the holes of fixing bolts and completes the LED light circuit. Fig.- 10 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERP OOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein reverse printed transparent polycarbonate / acrylic sheet (Fig-1) is pasted with two pieces of transparent acrylic sheets for security thread line and one piece of transparent acrylic sheet for biometric identification number (Fig- 2) and permanently framed along with background white polycarbonate / acrylic sheet (Fig - 3) maintaining a gap between (Fig - 2 and Fig - 3 ) background sheet and printed sheet.

Fjg. -11 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein complete license plate is fixed on the vehicle with bolt head at vehicle body and nut on license plate. The fixing bolts can not be unscrewed, pulled or removed as the steel wire passes through the bolts. Application of force will result in snapping of LED light circuit which is impossible to restore without damage of license plate.

Fig.- 12 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein side indicator light is included as optional. The indicator light is within the license plate metal frame but connected to indicator light circuit and not ignition circuit.

Fig. - 13 Shows the construction of "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" wherein vehicle registration number and other details are visible on both side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" is virtually a foolproof system in preventing vehicle theft. The present invention takes into account the seriousness of vehicle theft, use of stolen vehicle in terrorism and smuggling, difficulty in identification of stolen vehicle and its owner, inadequate illumination of registration number, lack of visibility of registration number etc. at night from a distance, resale of stolen vehicle with new identity, tampering and replacement of registration number. The present invention addresses the menace of vehicle theft through a whole new concept in license plate.

The very concept of illumination a part of license plate and its inclusion in the ignition circuit is a major deterrence.

Inclusion of Biometric identification number of vehicle owner prevents vehicle thief to deceive police or law enforcing authorities during verification.

Illumination of biometric identification number in red colour is easy to notice from a distance.

Any attempt to tamper or remove the license plate will result in snapping of the LED light circuit and non-illuminated license plate is easily noticeable by police or law enforcement agencies.

Attempt to tamper the license plate will make the 'illuminated security thread line across the registration number' invisible and is easily noticeable.

Removal of license plate from vehicle body is not possible without removing the concealed steel wire and without damaging the license plate.

The resale of stolen vehicle for further on road use is completely eliminated. In the event of non illumination due to malfunctioning of LED or damage of the license plate for reasons other than theft, the original ownership of the vehicle can be established through biometric identification number.

The present invention "ILLUMINATED AND TAMPERPROOF VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE" is based on a unique concept of two way working technology. It means that whether the license plate is illuminated or not is clearly noticeable. Illumination provides details on the license plate and non illumination calls for verification by police. The present invention is a simple, independent, low cost technology to prevent vehicle theft permanently.

The present invention has a three layer construction of polycarbonate or acrylic sheet or both in user specific dimension. The first and second sheet layers are transparent. The third sheet layer acts as background 9 and can be of any chosen colour decided by the respective authority of that country. The second sheet layer is reverse printed 1 with vehicle registration number 2 _S country marking 4 and biometric identification number of the vehicle owner 3„ The biometric identification number is printed in red colour but the colour of the vehicle registration number is country specific. The security thread line 7 is made by jointing two transparent acrylic sheets 8 and pasting the same with second sheet layer having printed matter 1. The poisoning of the joining line or security thread line is across the middle portion of the registration number 34 for clear visibility. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are then pasted together to secure the printed matter further 35. Specially designed Aluminium / Brass / Copper channel is cut to specific size and used as metal frame 27,28,29,30. Adequate numbers of white or warm white LED emittersl 1, 18 are suitably placed inside the top 10 and bottom metal channel 15 for proper illumination of license plate and security thread line. In addition red LED emitter 16 is also placed directly under the biometric identification number. Amber LED emitters 1 are placed at bottom frame for Indicator light option. The vertical or side metal channels 19 are fitted with permanent magnets 23 attached with LED light terminals. The LED light terminals and magnets are fitted in the inner side of the side channels and not visible from outside. The vertical or side metal channels are then drilled with approximately 4mm through hole 20 just .above the position of the permanent magnet. All the polycarbonate or acrylic sheet layers with vehicle registration number, country marking, biometric identification number and security thread line is then framed from all the four sides with metal channels fitted with LED lights and magnets attached with LED light terminals. The sheet layers are permanently adhesive bonded with the metal frame. The background or coloured sheet layer 25 and second sheet layer 26 has a gap in between of approximately 3mm - 5mm 24 to allow mild steel wire to pass through easily. The license plate is then drilled for two fixing bolts for fixing with vehicle body 6. The license plate fixing bolts 32 are specially designed with a through hole across the diameter 31. The fixing bolt holes are aligned along the 3mm - 5mm gap between third sheet layer and second sheet layer. The fixing of the license plate is done by placing the bolt head with vehicle body and nut on license plate 36. A piece of straight mild steel insulated wire 21 except 25mm - 50mm from both ends 22 is inserted and pushed through the hole of one side metal frame to reach the other side passing through both the fixing bolt holes 3 . The mild steel wire 21 is then dropped from the side frame hole 2© for magnets 23 to pull it on the LED terminals to complete the LED light circuit. Now the license plate is tightened through nuts to complete the fixing process. The hole on side metal frame is permanently closed with epoxy adhesive to prevent accessing the steel wire. The LED light circuit is connected to the ignition circuit for power supply 33„ The LED emitters13 are encapsulated in a special silicone 12 and epoxy 14 polymer systems to absorb shock from moving vehicle and prevent any damage. The license plate on completion of fixing process can not be tampered with and virtually impossible to remove and replace without causing damage or destroy. The license plate has the option of providing daytime running light (DRL) 5 in the unprinted vacant space and side indicator light 38 within the frame and connected to indicator light circuit 37.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remains possible, particularly as to the size, shape, design, color etc. of metal frame, its construction, polycarbonate or acrylic sheet, color of the sheet and number of layer(s), printing matters & color and process, LED emitter and its color, bolts and nuts design, insulated mild steel wire, permanent magnets or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.