License plate frame assembly

Claim 1

A one-piece molded plastic license plate frame adapted for cooperation with a license plate having a width dimension of approximately twice its height dimension and having a pair of spaced apart fastener receiving openings formed adjacent one horizontally extending edge thereof, said frame being of a generally rectangular shape and comprising upper and lower horizontally extending sections and vertically disposed end sections extending between and integrally connected to the opposite ends of said horizontal sections, each of said frame sections comprising an outer enclosure wall portion arranged at substantially right angles to the plane of said license plate, and an integral frontal wall portion that extends substantially parallel to the plane of the license plate and inwardly from the forwardmost part of the associated outer enclosure wall portion, said frontal wall portions providing an unobstructed rectangular opening having linear side edges through which the forward face of the license plate may be viewed, said frontal wall portions overlying the outer marginal edge portions of the forward face of said license plate and defining inwardly and rearwardly beveled face portions adjacent said opening and a decorative face area, said decorative face areas including a pair of spaced parallel forwardly projecting ribs between which is located an intermediate recessed surface area provided with an appearance enhancing treatment, said ribs protecting said intermediate area from the deleterious effects of car washing brushes, flying objects, such as stones, and the like, a plurality of plate retaining flange elements formed integrally of selective of said sections and including a first flange element on the uppermost of said horizontally extending sections and a second flange element on the lowermost of said horizontally extending sections, and third and fourth flange elements on said vertically disposed flange sections, said flange elements defining plate edge receiving recesses with said outer and frontal wall portion of the associated frame sections and being located on the rearward side of said license plate and thus being totally concealed from the forward side of said frame by said plate when the same is assembled into said frame, one of said flange elements associated with one of said horizontally extending sections being formed with an opening adapted to be aligned with one of said openings formed in said plate upon assembly of said plate within said frame whereby fastening means may be inserted through the aligned openings to secure said plate and frame in a unitized assembly, said frame being fabricated of a rigid yet deflectable material, such as ABS plastic, whereby assembly of said license plate into said frame may be achieved by inserting the side edges of said plate into the recesses defined by said third and fourth flange elements and moving said plate relative to said frame to a position wherein the leading horizontal edge of said plate is inserted into the slot of the adjacent horizontally extending frame section, and thereafter biasing the horizontal section of said frame associated with the opposite horizontal edge of the plate outwardly to permit said opposite horizontal edge of said plate to be inserted behind the associated flange element, and when said force on said biased horizontal frame section is relieved, said section will move under the influence of the natural elasticity of the plastic material toward its normal position retaining said opposite horizontal plate edge within the associated of said slots.