GB2243587A

GB2243587A - Cycle security device

Info

Publication number: GB2243587A
Application number: GB9108907A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Frederick Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-05-01
Filing date: 1991-04-25
Publication date: 1991-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2011-04-25
Also published as: GB9108907D0; GB9009825D0; GB2243587B

Abstract

A security device for a bicycle includes an upwardly-extending support column (6) having an inclined channel (7) at its upper end to engage a bicycle frame member (g), and locking means (8, 10, 11) to secure the bicycle frame relative to the column. The inclined channel (7) is upwardly concavely curved across its length. <IMAGE>

Description

Cycle Security Device The present invention is a security device for a bicycle.

Bicycles have in general always been a ready target for thieves and therefore various devices to prevent their being stolen have been proposed. The most widely used device is probably the simple lock and chain, which either is used to secure a wheel to the adjacent part of the cycle frame or is used to attach the bicycle to nearby railings or sane other fixed structure. In some locations cycle stands for supporting several bicycles are provided and a bicycle may be secured to such a stand by a lock and chain.

Devices of this sort do afford a useful measure of protection, especially in exposed locations where potential thieves cannot easily operate unobserved. However, with the escalating cost of bicycles and with an increase in the ownership of expensive bicycles in recent years, the incentive to steal has become greater and thieves are often better equipped for theft than has previously been usual.

Theft of expensive bicycles which have been left, locked or unlocked, indoors has becane quite ccmmon and there are many instances of expensive bicycles being stolen from apparently secure indoor locations such as garages and the like.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a security device for a bicycle, by means of which improved protection against theft fran garages and the like is achievable.

The cycle security device according to the present invention canprises an upwardly extending support column, an inclined channel at the upper end of said support column to engage an inclined frame member of a bicycle, said inclined channel being upwardly concavely curved in a direction transverse to its length, and locking means to secure a said bicycle frame member relative to said column.

The features of the cycle security device according to the invention are such that, when fixedly secured to a solid floor, it is able to support and secure bicycles of a wide variety of different designs, in a manner which makes theft difficult.

The device may be secured to a floor, for example a concrete floor of a garage, in different ways and its design is preferably such as to assist that securing. For example, the support column may be set directly within the floor, by casting the floor around the column or by cementing the column into an existing floor, and for this purpose the column may be provided with ribs or other surface irregularities to assist its retention in the floor. In one alternative, preferred form, the column is mounted upon a generally flat base plate, which may be provided with holes to enable it to be secured to a floor by means of expansion bolts or other forms of fastener, for example screws set in wooden plugs.

The e support column, which extends generally upwardly, for example vertically, when installed, will normally be of such a length as to enable the inclined channel to engage a lower member of the cycle frame, for example the inclined member which in many forms of bicycle extends upwardly and forwardly from the region of the pedals. Less desirably, the support column may be designed to allow the inclined channel to engage sane other feature of the bicycle frame, for example the rear wheel forks. The column may typically be of square, rectangular or circular cross-section.

The inclined channel at the upper end of the support column is shaped so as to be suitable for use with a wide range of styles of bicycle. The channel may simply be formed by the cutting of a suitably-shaped slot in the upper end of the column itself or it may be defined by a cradle member mounted upon the column. The channel may be rectilinear in the direction of its length or may be downwardly curved in that direction. The e inclination of the channel, measured either in the direction of its length when it is linear or as a tangent in the region of the middle of its length when it is downwardly curved, may advantageously be within the range from 30 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the horizontal, more preferably from 40 degrees to 50 degrees.

Transverse to its length, the inclined channel is curved so as to present a concave surface or surfaces to the cycle frame member. The e curvature of this upper surface is preferably of significantly smaller radius than that along the length of the channel. Thus, for example, the curvature of the upper surface may be of the same order of size as that of a typical cycle frame member, and preferably slightly larger.

As indicated, in one form of the invention, the inclined channel may be defined by a cradle member mounted upon the support column. In that form of the invention, it is particularly preferred that the member be elongated and downwardly curved along its length in addition to being curved transverse to its length. This double curvature enables the device to adapt to different styles of bicycle. In general, the downward curvature is preferably a fairly shallow curve, for example about a centre of curvature below ground level when the device has been installed. Such curvature allows the cradle member to engage cycle frame members at different heights and of different inclinations.

Locking means are provided to secure the appropriate cycle frame member relative to the support column. When the inclined channel is defined by a cradle member as described above, the cycle frame member may be secured to the cradle member but it is in general preferred to secure the cycle frame member to the support column. To permit attachment to the column, the latter may be provided with an aperture passing through it, preferably transversely with respect to the length of the cradle member. As an alternative, a hook or more preferably a closed loop may project from the side of the support column. A suitable locking device, for example a lock and chain or a rigid cycle security lock of known design, may then encircle an adjacent cycle frame member and engage the aperture, hook or loop associated with the support column.

The cycle security device must of course be strong in order to fulfil its purpose satisfactorily and to that end it is preferably constructed in steel. At least the cycleengaging channel surface(s), and preferably the whole of the security device (except possibly any surface which may be unexposed when installed) may advantageously be covered with a coating of a suitable plastics material. Such a coating applied to the upper surface of the device will reduce the chance of damage to the cycle; on other surfaces, it will protect the device against corrosion or other damage.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate two preferred emDcdiments of the cycle security device according to the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the device; Fig. 2 is an elevation fram the side of the device of Fig. 1, showing its manner of use; Fig. 3 is an elevation from the side of the second embodiment of the device; and Fig. 4 is a view fran the front of the upper end of the device of Fig. 3, to a somewhat larger scale.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a base plate 3, secured to a concrete garage floor 4 by four expanding bolts 5. Extending upwardly fran the base plate 3 is a support column 6, which is of rectangular cross-section and supports at its upper end a cradle manber 7. As shown in the drawings, the cradle member is elongated and mounted in an upwardly-inclined position and curves downwardly along its length. The cradle number 7 is also curved in transverse section and presents a concave upper surface. An elongated oval aperture 8 extends through the column 6. The device is constructed in steel and is covered with a coating of a soft plastics material.

A conyentional bicycle, of which only an inclined, tubular main frame member 9 is seen in Fig. 2, is placed in a position in which the frame member 9 engages the concave upper surface of the cradle member 7 and is supported by the cradle member. A rigid metal loop 10 encircles the frame member 9 and cradle member 7 and extends through the aperture 8, in which position it is secured by a lock 11. The loop 10 could, of course, be replaced by a chain or the loop 10 and lock 11 could be together replaced by any other available form of locking means.

The embodiment of the cycle security device of the present invention which is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a tubular steel column 20, of circular cross-section, extending upwardly from a rectangular base plate 21, which is bolted to a concrete floor 28 via bolt holes 22. An elongated aperture 23 extends through the column 20 in its upper half and the top periphery 24 of the column is inclined to the length of the column by an angle of about 45 degrees.

A resilient insert 25, formed of rubber or a polyurethane foam, is secured within the upper end of the column 20 and generally follows the contour of the inner surface of the column. A linear channel 26, which is concavely senicircular in cross-section and is inclined at the same angle as the periphery 24 of the column 20, is formed in the insert 25 and extends diametrically between slots 27 in the opposite walls of the column.

The device of Figs. 3 and 4 is used in essentially the sample manner as that of Figs. 1 and 2. A bicycle to be secured is placed with one of the inclined tubular members of the cycle frame engaged within the channel 26 and is locked in that position by a suitable locking device passing through the aperture 23 and encircling the frame member.

Thus, by means of either of the illustrated cycle security devices, a bicycle may be both supported and also secured against theft by other than the most determined would-be thief.

Claims

1. A cycle security device comprising an upwardly extending support column, an inclined channel at the upper end of said support column to engage an inclined frame inebber of a bicycle, said inclined channel being upwardly concavely curved in a direction transverse to its length, and locking means to secure a said bicycle frame member relative to said column.

2. A cycle security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said column is provided with ribs or other surface irregularities.

3. A cycle security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said column is mounted upon a generally flat base plate.

4. A cycle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the channel is inclined at an angle within the range fran 40 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal.

5. A cycle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the channel is formed by a slot in the upper end of the column.

6. A cycle security device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the channel is defined by a cradle member mounted upon the column.

7. A cycle security device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cradle member is elongated and downwardly curved along its length.

8. A cycle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the support column is provided with an aperture passing through it.

9. A cycle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of said channel is covered with a coating of a plastics material.

10. A cycle security device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A cycle security device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A cycle security device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 3 and 4 of the accampanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A cycle security device comprising an upwardly extending support column having an aperture passing through it, an inclined channel at the upper end of said support column to engage an inclined frame member of a bicycle, said inclined channel being upwardly concavely curved in a direction transverse to its length, and locking means to secure a said bicycle frame member to said column by means of said aperture through said column.

4. A cycle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the channel is inclined at an angle within the range from 40 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal.

8. A cycle security device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of said channel is covered with a coating of a plastics material.

9. A cycle security device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.