AU718225B3 - Cycle lock - Google Patents

Description

TITLE: CYCLE LOCK THIS INVENTION relates to locks. In particular, it is directed to a lock that finds use on a cycle, especially a bicycle, to deter theft of that cycle.

Use of the bicycle as a means of commuting and as a source of recreation is increasing. Not an uncommon scenario is for a commuter to ride a bicycle to the local railway station, leave the bicycle at the station, commute to work and back to the station before using the bicycle to travel home. Similarly, bicycles are used as a recreational pursuit often requiring the bicycle to be left unattended as the person undertakes other activities. Such commuting and recreational uses have, unfortunately, necessitated the bicycle to be safely secured against theft.

Many types of bicycle locks exist in the prior art. These include extended-hasp padlocks, chain and cable locks, and U-shaped locks and similar, all of which are separable from the bicycle. Such locks typically require locking the bicycle to a stationary object such as a pole, purpose-built bicycle rack, etc.

Disadvantages of these locks are that they tend to be heavy and cumbersome and, when not in use, the bicyclist must either mount the lock in a nonoperative position on the bike frame (which adds additional weight to the bicycle) or carry the lock upon his or her person.

Other prior art locks seek to overcome such disadvantages by being of lesser weight and permanently or semi-permanently mounted to the bicycle frame.

For example, US 4,188,808 discloses a U- or J-shaped member with a retractable cable housed therein. The shaped member is fixed at a convenient location on the bicycle frame member. However, the spring-loaded cable retraction mechanism is somewhat complicated.

US 4,459,833 discloses a swiveling stirrup arrangement but this has to welded to the frame, requires a keyed lock integral with the unit, and the operational unit remains close to the spokes of the wheel with the potential for components to become entangled in the spokes while riding leading to a serious accident for the rider if the lock mountings become loose. Further, a large number of components must be assembled to create the lock.

US 5,157,954 discloses an essentially U-shaped locking member located in a housing. The housing is secured to the substantially upright rear frame member of a bicycle. The locking member is adapted to slide within the housing such that, in the locking position, its two arms flank the spokes of the rear wheel of the bicycle. A locking bar then passes through each arm and through the spokes to engage the lock. In the unlocked position, the U-shaped locking member projects forward of the rear wheel into a space intermediate of the rider's legs which represents its very disadvantage, namely, that the projecting locking member represents a risk of injury to the rider in the event of an accident.

Notwithstanding the disadvantages of the locks disclosed in US 5,157,954, it typifies the locks favoured by cyclists today where the lock employs a bar or rod which extends between the spokes of a front or rear wheel, the bar being generally affixed to a frame member of the bike on which the wheel is mounted. These type of locks are favoured as they lock a wheel to the frame of the bike. Often, it requires the wheel to be disengaged from the frame if there is any chance of the lock being "broken". Having a bike frame with one wheel missing is less likely to be stolen as the bike cannot be simply ridden off by the thief. Further, removing a wheel with a lock in its operative position [28/01/2000] takes time and looks suspicious to passers by. The thief may be noticed before the lock is removed or broken.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a lock which provides the known advantages of these type of locks but without their disadvantages.

It is thus a general object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lock for a cycle, said lock including: a first member adapted to be affixed to a frame member of said cycle; a second member which includes a first arm and a second arm connected at respective ends to form a substantially U-shaped member, said second member having its closed end pivotally connected to said first member and its open end adapted such that, when said lock is in a locked position, said arms can straddle a wheel of said cycle; and a third member, which can be removably secured to said first arm and to said second arm, adapted to span between said first arm and said second arm at or near said open end of said second member; wherein, in said locked position, said first arm and said second arm straddle said wheel and said third member passes through the spokes of said wheel before being secured to said first arm and to said second arm; [28/01/2000] and wherein, when said lock is in a stowed position, said first arm and said second arm straddle said frame member before said third member is secured to said first arm and to said second arm.

Preferably, said first member is substantially U-shaped with internal dimensions such that said first member is a close fit to said frame member.

Preferably, said third member is a lock pin having its head removably secured to said first arm, its body passing through a bore in said second arm, and including an aperture through which a bar of a padlock or similar may pass to prevent said third member from being removed from said second member.

Preferably, said head of said lock pin is substantially square or rectangular in shape which is accommodated in a complementary shaped recess in said first arm thus always presenting said aperture at a particular orientation to said second arm.

An optional feature of the present invention is for said first member to further include a removable sleeve to enable said first member to be fitted to said frame member of differing dimensions.

The invention will now be described with reference to preferred embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a lock constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is the lock of FIG. 1 which further includes an optional feature of the present invention; FIG. 3 is the lock of FIG. 1 in a locked position; and FIG. 4 is the lock of FIG. 1 in a stowed position.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the lock of the present invention includes a substantially U-shaped first member the internal dimensions of which are such that the member is a close fit to a rear frame member of a bicycle.

A second substantially U-shaped member is pivotally connected at its closed end across the open end of the first member The pivot connection between the first member and the second member is sufficiently permanent such that the first member and the second member cannot be separated without extensive damage to the respective members Typical of such a pivot is a pin (19) which has a screw-type head with a slot which can only be engaged and turned by a driver in the clockwise, tightening position; the driver cannot be retained in the slot to counter-rotate and loosen the pin The first arm of the second member has a Tshaped aperture passing therethrough near the open end of the second member the head of the aperture forming a square shaped recess (8a).

The second arm (10) of the second member includes an aperture (11) positioned essentially opposite the aperture in the first arm A lock pin includes a head (12) and a body Near the end of the body (13) opposite to the head (12) there is a bore In use (FIG. the lock pin passes through the aperture in the first arm the head (12) of the pin resting in the recess (8a) and then passes through the aperture (11) in the second arm exposing the bore (14) in the body (13) on the outer side of the second arm (10) to which a padlock (15) can be attached. The dimensions of the lock pin are such that, when in position and with the padlock (15) locked, any movement of the lock pin in the direction D will not expose the head (12) of the lock pin.

FIG. 2 also illustrates an optional sleeve (16) which fits within the inner confines of the first member to accommodate a frame member of reduced diameter.

In use, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first member is fitted to the rear frame member of a bicycle The first arm and the second arm flank the rear wheel The third member passes through the spokes of the wheel (18) and, with the padlock (15) in use, locks the bicycle by only allowing limited movement of the rear wheel When a person wishes to ride the bicycle, the padlock (15) is unlocked and removed, the third arm is removed, the second member is pivoted upwards to flank the frame member and the lock pin reinstalled and the padlock (15) affixed. The wheel (18) is thus free to turn and the lock is stowed on the frame member until required for use again.

Although in no way limiting, all components of the lock of the present invention could be manufactured from a metal or plastic material, or a combination thereof.

The present invention can thus provide a lightweight, substantial lock for a cycle which, when not in use, can be easily and positively stowed on the frame of the cycle, safely away from the legs and other areas of a rider, until required for use.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are only exemplification of the various aspects of the present invention and that modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the following claims.

Claims (3)

1. A lock for a cycle, said lock including: a first member adapted to be affixed to a frame member of said cycle; a second member which includes a first arm and a second arm connected at respective ends to form a substantially U-shaped member, said second member having its closed end pivotally connected to said first member and its open end adapted such that, when said lock is in a locked position, said arms can straddle a wheel of said cycle; and a third member, which can be removably secured to said first arm and to said second arm, adapted to span between said first arm and said second arm at or near said open end of said second member; wherein, in said locked position, said first arm and said second arm straddle said wheel and said third member passes through the spokes of said wheel before being secured to said first arm and to said second arm; and wherein, when said lock is in a stowed position, said first arm and said second arm straddle said frame member before said third member is secured to said first arm and to said second arm. [28/01/2000]

2. A lock as defined in Claim 1, wherein said third member is a lock pin having its head removably secured to said first arm, its body passing through a bore in said second arm, and including an aperture through which a bar of a padlock or similar may pass to prevent said third member from being removed from said second member.

3. A lock as defined in Claim 1, wherein said first member includes a removable sleeve to enable said first member to be fitted to said frame member of differing dimensions. DATED THIS 28th DAY OF January 2000 DYNAMIC DIRECT MARKETING PTY LTD by its Patent Attorney KEVIN M PULLEN 311 Lu'-