CA1083843A - Universal lock bar - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A universal lock bar more particularly to be used as a wheel lock for motor bicycles, bicycles and the like.
Two rigid bars are pivotally interconnected at one end by means of integral eye lugs extending at right angles to each other, while the other ends of the bars are also provided with integral eye lugs adapted to overlap and register with each other to receive the loop of a padlock, or the like. Each bar has inwardly inclined end portions to form a frame when closed to surround the wheel forks of a bicycle or the like.

Description

1(~83843 The pr~sent lnv~ntion relates to locking devlces and, more specifically, to locks designed for the special purposes of locking the wheels of motorbicycles, bicycles or other small veh~cles.
These are known devices on the market for locking bicycles~ motorcycles and the like. These consist largely of metal chains covered with plastic or some other such material and secured with some type of combination lock or a padlock. As is well known, these chains can be broken by heavy-duty metal pliers, unless the metal is a high quality hard one and, therefore, expensive. There are also devices for securing the vehicle to a fixed stand, but, obviously, these have the disadvantage of not being portable.
Accordingly, it is an ob~ect of the present invention to provide a wheel lock simple of construction, easy to use and inexpensive.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wheel lock which is apt for several types of small vehicles.
These objects are realized in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, which includes two rigid link bars ` pivotally interconnected at one end and removably fastened together by means of a padlock, or the like, at the opposite end. Thus, the 20 bars can be positioned around, for example, the front or rear wheel forks of a two-wheeled vehicle to extend between the spokes of the wheel and then locked by a padlock or the like.
The above will be clearly understood by referral to the following appended drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lock bars in position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lock bars;
Figure 3 is a top view of the lock bars;
Figure 4 is a side view of the lock bars locked by a pad-lock shown in dot-and-dash lines.
The wheel lock 1 lncludes ri8id bars 2 and 3~ each consisting of a straight main portion having at both ends inwardly

-2-. .. .

bent portions ~ ~nd 9, re~pectively. Eye lugs 4 and 5 are integr~Ily formed at one end of bars 2 and 3 respe~tively, while lugs 6 and 6 are integrally fermed at the other end of bars 2 and 3, respectively.
Eye 1U9B 4 and 6 extend ln the plane containing the main portion and the two in~ardly bent portions Or the re3pective ber. Eye lug 5 extend~
perpendicular to said plane. Eye lugs 4 and 5 are pivotally lnter-eng~ged, while ey~ luga 6 can overlap in closed positiDn~ a8 ahown in Figures 3 ~nd 4, to recHive the loop of a padlock 7.
When the wheel lock 1 i8 needed to lock a veh~cl~, it i8 only nscesSory to po~itlon the bars 2 and 3 around tl-e forkq A of a wheel (as in Fig. I). It should be noted that installation or the lock bars ia easier than inotalling a lock-chain, since the bars are rigid and may be pushed into place ~rom outside the wheel between the wheel spokes S, without g~tting one's fingers caught in the spokes. Then, it i8 simple matter to sn~p on a padlock through tha ovorlapped eye registuring lugs 6.
Pre~arably, the lock bero 2 and 3 are msde oP very hard metal, such a~ some type o~ tempered steel. It is to be not0d al~o that, even if a thief happened to succesorully sever one of the lock bars ~han in po~ition, it would still be neces6ar~ to bend the severed lock bar in ~ome way and/or break the spokeo o~ the wheel to fully remove the univer~l lock bar~. Con~equently, the rigidity o~ the b~rs in the design assures a practically reliable and tool-proof locking device.
Another po~itive tactor is the clearly inexpensive C08t of manufacture in comparison to chain locks. Also, the universal lock bars are easily portable and storable. Th~ device hso oth~r locklng uses; for instance, the two bars 2 and 3 can be opread apart and two padlocks u8~d to connect each ey~ lug 6 to 8 separate member to thereby interconnect and lock thH two ~embers together. The ~ree ~nds of the eye lugs can be ~elded to the bar to complstely clo~e th- loop, if eo de~ired.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A lock for vehicles having spoked wheels and forks consisting of two rigid bar members, each of the same length and each having a straight main portion and inwardly inclined extensions at both ends of said main portion, an integral eye lug at the free end of each extension, the two eye lugs of one rigid bar member lying in a first plane defined by said main portion and said inclined extensions; one eye lug of the other said bar member lying in a second plane orthogonal to said first plane, said one eye lug being pivotally engaged with one eye lug of said first named bar, whereby said two bar members pivot in the said first plane about their respective engaged eye lugs from an open position to a closed position wherein the main portions of both said bar members extend parallel to each other and the respective eye lugs at the opposite ends of the respective bar members overlap and register for insertion of the loop of a padlock or the like locking member; and wherein the lateral distance between said main portions is at least wide enough to permit the positioning of said main portions around either side of a conventional motorcycle fork member; and the longitudinal length of said bar members is at least long enough to allow for the surrounding of a pair of laterally-opposed forks of a motorcycle.