FR3062634A1 - CYCLE PROVIDED WITH AN ANTI-THEFT LOCK AND AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CYCLES COMPRISING SUCH CYCLES - Google Patents

Abstract

Cycle comprising an antitheft link (67) terminated by a pin (67a) adapted to engage in an antitheft lock (68). Locking of the antitheft lock on the spindle is conditional upon engagement of the spindle in an opening (107) of a fork lock (104) which is attached to the fork (1c) of the cycle. This opening is positioned so that in the locking position, the fork is in a rotated position where the front wheel (lb) forms a non-zero angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of the frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cycles provided with anti-theft locks and to automatic systems for providing cycles comprising such cycles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Document FR2877634 describes an anti-theft system comprising an anti-theft lock fixed to the frame and a cable having one end fixed to the cycle and one free end. The free end of the cable can be engaged in a plate integral with the cycle fork and the anti-theft lock has a lug adapted to cooperate with the plate in order to block the free end of the cable in the plate while blocking the fork in the turned position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The cycles described in the aforementioned document give all satisfaction, but nevertheless give the possibility to a user to lock the anti-theft lock without blocking the anti-theft cable.

The object of the invention is in particular to overcome this drawback.

To this end, the invention provides a cycle comprising a frame carried by a rear wheel, a fork pivotally mounted on the frame (ld) and secured to a handlebar, a front wheel carrying the fork, and an anti-theft system comprising:

an anti-theft link having a first end fixed to the cycle and a second free end, the second end having a rigid pin;

- a fork blocking member fixed to the cycle fork, the fork blocking member comprising an opening; and an anti-theft lock fixed to the cycle frame (1), the anti-theft lock having an opening for receiving the pin of the anti-theft link, the opening of the fork blocking member being arranged to be in correspondence with the opening of the anti-theft lock and to receive the spindle when the fork is in a turned position where the front wheel forms a non-zero angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of the frame, the anti-theft lock being adapted to block the pin when said pin is in a locking position where said pin is inserted into the opening of the fork locking member and into the opening of the anti-theft lock, and the pin being adapted to block the locking member fork lock when said spindle is in the locked position.

In particular embodiments, the cycle can also include one or more of the following arrangements:

- The pin of the anti-theft link includes at least one shoulder and the anti-theft lock comprises a movable locking member which is adapted to cooperate with said at least one shoulder to block the pin in the anti-theft lock;

the locking member is movable between a closed position where it closes the opening of the anti-theft lock and an unlocking position where it releases the opening of the anti-theft lock so as not to interfere with the pin of the anti-theft link;

- The locking member is urged elastically towards the closed position and the anti-theft lock comprises an actuator adapted to move the locking member into the unlocking position;

the anti-theft lock includes a pin sensor detecting the pin lock position;

the cycle further includes a locking sensor adapted to detect at least one position of the locking member;

the fork locking member is configured to interfere with the pin of the anti-theft link by preventing said pin from reaching the locking position as long as the opening of the fork locking member is not in correspondence with the opening the anti-theft lock;

the fork blocking member is a crown disposed under the anti-theft lock and the opening of the anti-theft lock is in the form of a substantially vertical well open downwards and upwards;

the anti-theft lock is electric and actuable by a user interface allowing a user to enter a secret code;

the cycle also includes means of

communication suitable for receive said coded secret; ways of communication involve a interface of communication radio and the cycle

further comprises control means adapted to cause the radio communication interface to transmit, as a function of information given by the locking sensor, a signal indicating that the pin of the anti-theft link is locked in the anti-theft lock;

the cycle also includes control means adapted for:

controlling the actuator to move the locking member to the unlocking position when the user interface receives the secret code, controlling the actuator to release the locking member when the spindle sensor detects the spindle locking position.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to an automatic system for providing cycles comprising:

- a plurality of cycles as defined above;

- an infrastructure adapted to make cycles available to users, the infrastructure being adapted to, when it delivers a cycle to a user, communicate a secret code specific to the user to the anti-theft lock of the cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an automatic cycle storage system capable of implementing the invention,

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a locking station of the system of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cycle 1 of the system of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical components of the automatic cycle storage system,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the anti-theft system of the cycle of the system of FIG. 1, respectively seen from three-quarters from above and from below,

FIG. 7 is a partially transparent schematic view of the lock of the anti-theft system shown in the closed position with the pin of the anti-theft link not inserted in the anti-theft lock,

FIG. 8 is a partially transparent schematic view of the anti-theft lock shown in the armed position with the pin not inserted in the lock,

FIG. 9 is a partially transparent schematic view of the anti-theft lock shown in the armed position with the pin inserted in the lock,

FIG. 10 is a partially transparent schematic view of the anti-theft lock shown in the locked position with the pin inserted in the anti-theft lock, and

- Figure 11 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the cycle locking system.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic system for storing cycles 1 such as in particular bicycles, making it possible for example to store cycles on the public highway so as to make them available to the public.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each cycle 1 may comprise a structure mounted on two wheels 1b, the structure 1a including a frame ld and a fork carrying it with a handlebar le and pivotally mounted on the frame ld. The frame ld extends in a longitudinal direction L of the cycle 1.

Each cycle 1 may also include an anti-theft link 67, for example a cable or a chain, one end 101a of which is fixed to the fork le and the other end 101b, which is free, has a rigid pin 67a which can be engaged. and lock in an anti-theft lock 68. The anti-theft lock 68 may advantageously be electric with code and include a keyboard 68a or similar which makes it possible to control the anti-theft lock 68. The cooperation of the anti-theft link 67 and the lock Theft-deterrent 68 will be described in more detail below.

This automatic cycle storage system can include several BS cycle storage stations, one of which is shown in FIG. 1, including locking stations 7. Each BS cycle storage station can have a station 2 control station , which can for example be in the form of an interactive terminal provided with a user interface comprising for example a keyboard 3, a touch screen 4 or the like, a portable electronic card reader 5, a device 6 for printing tickets, contactless card reader 6a, etc.

The interactive terminal 2 communicates on the one hand, with a central server SI which manages the subscriptions and the rentals of cycles, and on the other hand, if necessary with a server S2 which can manage services to the users accessible on the interactive terminal 2. Communication with the servers SI, S2 can be done in particular by radio.

The interactive terminal 2 can also communicate if necessary, in particular by radio and in particular by a short-range radio link (for example with the Zigbee® protocol or other), with the cycles 1 locked at the BS station or located nearby.

In addition, the interactive terminal 2 can optionally communicate, for example by wire or short range radio, with a security device 70. The security device 70 can for example comprise a lighting device 71 adapted to light the station BS and / or a camera 72 whose field of vision 73 covers the station BS. The lighting device 71 and / or the camera 72 can be mounted in height, for example on a pole 74, a building, an item of street furniture, or the like. Optionally, the security device 70 could be integrated into the interactive terminal 2. As a variant, the security device 70 could be controlled from the server SI or another remote control device belonging to the system.

Finally, the interactive terminal 2 communicates, for example by wire or short range radio, with the locking stations 7 of the station BS, on which cycles 1 can be locked. The locking stations can be presented in particular in the form of terminals fixed to the ground. Each cycle 1 comprises a first attachment member which will be described below, and which is adapted to lock on a second attachment belonging to any lock 7 of the system, on any station BS of the system.

The station BS may also include a zone for depositing cycles 69, delimited for example by a marking on the ground 69a, which can be used to render a cycle 1 when all the locking stations 7 of the station are occupied, as will be described below. -after.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the second member which station for the latching member of each locking station 7 may possibly be in the form of a rigid keeper 8, mounted for example articulated on a support 9 integral with the structure 7a of the locking station.

This keeper 8 can for example be in the form of a C open vertically upwards and downwards as well as horizontally in a direction of engagement of the first attachment member belonging to cycle 1.

The keeper 8 can be articulated on the support 9, for example by a ball joint.

The keeper 8 includes a movable locking member 16, which is actuated by an electric actuator (not shown) contained in the support 9 and of a type known per se. The locking member can be resiliently biased towards the locking position where it is able to block the first hooking member of the cycle in the keeper 8 to lock the cycle 1 on the locking station 7, and it can be actuated by said electric actuator to a retracted position where it releases the first attachment member and therefore cycle 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first attachment member 18 of cycle 1 is mounted on the structure 1a of cycle 1, in particular on the frame ld.

The first attachment member 18 may be substantially in the form of a rigid ring, comprising a rigid bar 21 oriented along an axis ZI which is substantially vertical in the normal position of use of the cycle.

The bar 21 may possibly be made of electrically insulating material and comprise two superimposed electrical contacts 22 adapted to come into electrical contact with electrical contacts 17 of the keeper (FIG. 4) when the first attachment member 18 is locked on the keeper 8 , so as to make the electronics of the locking station 7 communicate with the on-board electronics of cycle 1, and if necessary so as to charge a battery of cycle 1, in particular if it is an assisted cycle electric.

As shown in FIG. 4, the interactive terminal 2 can comprise at least one electronic central unit 50 (UC) such as a microcomputer or the like, connected to:

radio communication interfaces 51, 52, 53 (COM) respectively with the servers SI, S2 and with the cycles 1 located in the station or in the immediate vicinity, the communication interface 53 possibly being a radio interface operating for example under the Zigbee® protocol, as indicated above,

a communication interface 54 (COM) for communication with the locking stations 7 of the station BS, the user interfaces 3, 4, 5, 6, 6a mentioned above and possibly others.

Each locking station 7 can comprise an electronic central unit 56 (UC) such as a microcontroller or the like, connected:

- the unlocking actuator 57 (LCK) which controls the above-mentioned locking member 16,

- a communication interface 55 (COM) communicating with the above-mentioned interface 54,

- an electrical supply device 58 (AL) connected to the electrical network or to another source of electrical energy, and itself connected to the above-mentioned electrical contacts 17 (INT).

Each cycle 1 can also include an electronic central unit 60 (UC) such as a microcontroller ouο or the like, connected:

- the battery 61 (BATT) and the electric motor 62 (M) of the cycle if the cycle is electrically assisted (these elements are optional; the invention applies equally to cycles with or without electric assistance),

- a power supply device 59 (AL) connected to the aforementioned contacts 22 (INT), themselves connected to the aforementioned electrical contacts 17 (INT) of the locking station 7 when the cycle is locked on a locking station,

- an electrical locking device 65 (LCK CH) of the chain 66 of the bicycle,

- an electric lock 68 with code (LCK F), provided with a keyboard 68a or similar, adapted to receive and lock the anti-theft link 67 of cycle 1, the lock 68 further having a user interface 68a such as a keyboard, adapted to receive a secret activation code r

a radio communication interface 60a (COM), operating for example under the Zigbee® protocol and adapted to communicate with the above-mentioned communication interface 53 of the interactive terminal 2.

The anti-theft lock 68 may optionally also include an electronic central unit (not shown) which communicates with the electronic central unit 60 of the cycle.

The security device 70 may include a communication interface 73 (COM) allowing the central unit 50 of the interactive terminal to communicate with the lighting device 71 (ECL), the camera 72 (CAM) or any other device for security. This securing device can be omitted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The above-mentioned anti-theft cable 67 and anti-theft lock 68 belong to an anti-theft system 100 which will now be described in detail and which is visible in particular in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The pin 67a of the free end 101b of the anti-theft link 67 is insertable into an opening 102 of the anti-theft lock 68. The opening 102 may be through. The opening 102 may in particular be in the form of a substantially vertical well (in the normal position of use of the cycle), open upwards and downwards. The anti-theft lock 68 can be actuated by means of a secret code known to the user at

return sure the aforementioned user interface 68a. The anti-theft system 100 also includes an organ of blocking of fork 104 fixed to the fork on. The organ of blocking of the fork 104 makes it possible to block the wheel lb before in a turned position, non-parallel with the

longitudinal direction L of cycle 1, when pin 67a is locked by latch 68, in order to make the flight of cycle 1 more difficult.

To this end, the fork blocking member 104 includes an opening 106 sized to receive the pin 67a when it is locked in the anti-theft lock 68. The fork blocking member 104 can take the form of a crown. The crown 104 is arranged, in this embodiment, under the anti-theft lock 68. By pivoting the handlebar, the opening 106 of the fork locking member 104 can be positioned in alignment with the opening 102 of the anti-theft lock 68. To facilitate this alignment, the alignment position of the openings 102, 106 may correspond to a position of the handlebar end of travel stop.

As long as the openings 102 and 106 are not aligned, the pin 67a cannot be fully engaged in the opening 102 of the anti-theft lock and the anti-theft lock cannot be locked. When the openings 102 and 106 are aligned, the pin 67a can commonly pass through them and thus, when the anti-theft lock 68 is locked, maintain and secure the fork angularly in the rotated position relative to the frame ld, in addition to securing already provided by the anti-theft cable which can conventionally be passed around a fixed element (tree, post or other).

Referring now to Figures 7 to 10, the anti-theft lock 68 includes an actuator, for example an electric motor 108, which is actuated by the central unit 60 of the cycle (or by a central unit of the anti-theft lock 68 ) when the user enters his secret code on the keyboard 68a.

The actuator 108 drives an arm 110, for example pivoting about a vertical axis of rotation. The arm 110 is adapted to selectively abut on a locking member 112 pivotally mounted in the latch 68, for example around a vertical axis of rotation.

The locking member 112 includes a finger 114 adapted to enter the opening 102 of the anti-theft lock. The locking member 112 is pivotally mounted between a closed position where the finger 114 closes the opening 102 of the anti-theft lock 68 and an unlocked position where the finger 114 releases the opening 102 of the anti-theft lock 68 from so as not to interfere with pin 67a. The locking member 112 is resiliently biased by a spring 118 towards its closed position. In the rest position of the actuator 108, the arm 110 does not interfere with the locking member 112. When the actuator 108 is activated by the entry of the secret code on the keyboard 68a, the arm rotates the locking member by cam effect, to place it in the unlocking position against the stress of the spring 118.

When the pin 67a of the anti-theft cable is placed in the locking position in the aforementioned openings 102, 106, the finger 114 of the locking member engages in a groove 116a of the pin 67a and prevents the pin from coming out. 67a, by abutment of said finger 114 against one of the shoulders 116 which delimit the groove 116a.

The anti-theft system 100 preferably includes, moreover, a locking sensor, for example a potentiometer 120, in the anti-theft lock 68 which makes it possible to detect the position of the locking member 112, in particular the locked position. The keyboard 68a of the anti-theft lock 68 may include an indicator 68b (LED or other) which lights up as a function of the position of the locking member 112.

The anti-theft system 100 preferably includes a spindle sensor 122 (Hall effect sensor or the like). The sensor 122 is positioned in a lower part of the anti-theft lock 68 and under the fork locking member 104, to detect the locking position of the spindle 67a.

Cycle 1 can also include a chain blocking device 210 (LCK CH) controlled by the central unit 60 of the cycle (see FIG. 4) and interacting on the cycle chain.

The system which has just been described operates as follows.

When a user wants to borrow a cycle 1 on one of the locking terminals 7, he can for example have a card or a contactless electronic chip ticket (NFC or other) read by the reader 6a of the interactive terminal or by a similar reader possibly provided on a locking station 7, or it can insert a portable electronic card in the reader 5 of the interactive terminal 2 then enter a secret code corresponding to this card, by means of the keyboard 3, so as to s '' identify with said interactive terminal.

After verifying the rights of the user with the server SI, the interactive terminal 2 gives an unlocking authorization to one of the locking stations 7.

At the same time as it gives this unlocking authorization, the interactive terminal sends the user's secret code to the central unit 60 of the cycle, which makes it possible to actuate the anti-theft lock 68 using the user interface 68a. This secret code can be known in advance and stored in the server SI if the user subscribes to the service. As a variant, the secret code can be determined at the time when the user borrows the cycle and can be communicated at this time to the user, by printing on a ticket by sending to the user's mobile phone or the like.

The interactive terminal 2 sends the secret code to the central unit 60 of cycle 1 via the interfaces 17, 22 and / or via the radio communication interfaces 53, 60a.

The user can unlock the cycle 1 which has been allocated to him, for example by pressing a button provided on the corresponding locking station, which cuts off the electrical supply to the contacts 17 by the supply device 58 and the control of the unlocking actuator 57 by the central unit 56 of the locking station 7 to move the locking member 16 into the retracted position. The user can then take cycle 1, and the electronic central unit 56 of the locking station 7 then locates the removal of cycle 1 since it can no longer communicate with the central unit 56 of this cycle by the contacts 17 , 22. The electronic central unit 56 of the locking station 7 then informs the interactive terminal 2 of this removal.

During the cycle 1 borrowing period, the user may want to stop temporarily. In this case, it uses the anti-theft system 100 to secure cycle 1. The user then follows the steps of the method 200 illustrated in FIG. 11.

The locking member 112 of the cycle is initially in the closed position (Figure 7) and the arm 110 of the actuator 108 does not interfere with the locking member.

In step 202, the user unlocks the anti-theft lock 68. To do this, the user presses a lock key 68c on the keyboard 68a (see FIG. 5), so that the anti-theft lock 68 is activated and the actuator 108 moves the locking member 112 from the closed position (FIG. 7) to the unlocking position (FIG. 8) thus releasing the opening 102 of the anti-theft lock 68.

In step 204, the user rotates the fork 1c of the cycle so as to align the opening 106 of the fork locking member 104 with the opening 102 of the anti-theft lock 68, which positions the fork it at a non-zero angle with the longitudinal direction L of the frame ld.

In step 206, the user inserts pin 67a of the anti-theft link 67 into the opening 106 of the fork locking member 104 and the opening 102 of the anti-theft lock 68. The pin sensor 122 detects then the presence of the end 67b of the pin 67a (Figure 9), which shows that the pin 67a is in the locked position.

The signal from the spindle sensor 122 is transmitted to the central unit 60 of the cycle (or if necessary to a central unit of the anti-theft lock 68) which returns the actuator to the rest position in step 208, so that the finger 114 of the locking member 112 engages in the groove 116a of the pin 67a and locks said pin (Figure 10).

To reuse the cycle, the user again enters his secret code on the keyboard 68a, which returns the locking member 112 to the unlocked position as explained above. The locking member 112 can then be automatically returned to the closed position by the central unit 60 of the cycle, for example after a certain time delay and / or after detection by the spindle sensor 122, that the spindle 67a is no longer in the locked position.

At the end of use of the cycle, when the user returns the cycle 1 and sets it up on a locking station 7, he engages the first attachment member 18 in the keeper 8 of the locking station, so that the electrical contacts 17, 22 are connected together and that the central units 56, 60 can communicate together.

When cycle 1 is locked on the locking station 7, the central unit 56 of the locking station identifies the presence of cycle 1 by communicating with the central unit 60 of the cycle.

The central unit 60 of the cycle can then communicate to the central unit 56 of the locking station, a unique identifier of cycle 1.

The central unit 56 of the locking station communicates, via the communication interfaces 54, 55, with the central unit 50 of the interactive terminal 2, to signal to it the presence of the cycle and to transmit to it the identifier of this cycle.

The electronic central unit 50 of the interactive terminal 2 then signals the end of the cycle borrowing period to the server SI, and the central unit 56 of the locking station activates the power supply device 58 to recharge the battery 61 of the cycle. At the same time, the central unit 50 of the interactive terminal 2 transmits to the management server SI the unique identifier of cycle 1 which has just been delivered to the station, as well as possibly the load parameter measured during delivery. from cycle 1 to BS station.

The interactive terminal 2 and / or the management server SI then stores the identifier of cycle 1 delivered to the cycle storage station BS and the time tO of delivery of cycle 1 to the station BS.

Claims (12)

1. Cycle (1) comprising a frame (ld) carried by a rear wheel (lb), a fork (le) pivotally mounted on the frame (ld) and integral with a handlebar (le), a front wheel (lb) carrying the fork (le), and an anti-theft system (100) comprising: a anti-theft link (67) having a first end (101a) fixed in cycle (1) and a second end (101b) free, the second end (101b) having a brooch (67a) rigid; a organ blocking fork (104) attached to the fork of the cycle (1), the blocking member of fork (104) including an opening (106) ; and a lock anti-theft (68) fixed to the frame (ld) of cycle (D, the lock anti-theft (68) having a opening (102) for receiving the pin (67a) of the anti-theft link (67), the opening (106) of the fork locking member (104) being arranged to correspond with the opening (102) of the anti-theft lock (68) and to receive the spindle (67a) when the fork (le) is in a turned position where the front wheel (lb) forms a non-zero angle with respect to a longitudinal direction (L) of the frame (ld), the anti-theft lock (68) being adapted to block the pin (67a) when said pin (67a) is in a locking position where said pin is inserted in the opening (106) of the member for locking the fork (104) and in the opening (102) of the anti-theft lock (68), and the spindle (67a) being adapted to block the fork locking member (104) when said spindle (67a) is in the locked position. 2. Cycle according to claim 1, wherein the pin (67a) of the anti-theft link (67) includes at least one shoulder (116) and the anti-theft lock (68) comprises a movable locking member (112) which is adapted to cooperate with said at least one shoulder (116) to block the pin (67a) in the anti-theft lock (68). 3. Cycle according to claim 2, wherein the locking member (112) is movable between a closed position where it closes the opening (102) of the anti-theft lock (68) and an unlocked position where it releases the opening (102) of the anti-theft lock (68) so as not to interfere with the pin (67a) of the anti-theft link (67). Cycle according to claim 3, in which the locking member (112) is resiliently biased towards the closed position and the anti-theft lock (68) comprises an actuator (108) adapted to move the locking member (112) in the unlocked position. The cycle of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the anti-theft lock (68) includes a spindle sensor (122) detecting the spindle locking position (67a). 6. Cycle according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further including a locking sensor (120) adapted to detect at least one position of the locking member (112). 7. Cycle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fork locking member (104) is configured to interfere with the pin (67a) of the anti-theft link (67) by preventing said pin (67a) from reaching the locking position as long as the opening (106) of the fork locking member (104) is not in correspondence with the opening (102) of the anti-theft lock (68). 8. Cycle according to claim 7, wherein the fork blocking member (104) is a crown disposed under the anti-theft lock (68) and the opening of the anti-theft lock (68) is in the form a substantially vertical well open downwards and upwards. 9. Cycle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the anti-theft lock (68) is electric and actuable by a user interface (68a) allowing a user to enter a secret code. 10. Cycle according to claim 9, further comprising communication means (22, 60a) adapted to receive said secret code. 11. The cycle of claim 9 in combination with claim 6, wherein the communication means comprise a radio communication interface (60a) and the cycle further comprises control means (60) adapted to cause transmission by the interface radio communication (60a), according to information given by the locking sensor (120), a signal indicating a locking of the pin (67a) of the anti-theft link (67) in the anti-theft lock (68). 12. Cycle according to claims 4 and 5 in combination with any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising control means (60) adapted for: - controlling the actuator (108) to move the locking member (112) to the unlocking position when the user interface receives the secret code, - controlling the actuator (108) to release the locking member (112) when the spindle sensor (122) detects the locking position of the spindle (67a). 13. Automatic cycle supply system comprising: - a plurality of cycles (1) according to one of claims 9 to 12; - an infrastructure (2, 7, SI) adapted to make the cycles (1) available to users, the infrastructure being adapted to, when it delivers a cycle (1) to a user, communicate a secret code specific to the user to the cycle lock (68). 1/9 Ο) CO