GB2383786A

GB2383786A - Steering lock for a bicycle

Info

Publication number: GB2383786A
Application number: GB0225585A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Raymond Hewitt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-04
Filing date: 2002-11-04
Publication date: 2003-07-09
Also published as: GB0225585D0; GB0200126D0

Abstract

A steering lock which is located in the headstem of a bicycle. Use of the lock allows the steering of the bicycle to be disengaged and, thereby, acts as a deterrent to theft. A bush 3, to which is attached the mount 15 for the handlebars, is rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the support tube 2 which contains the lock mechanism. Turning a key 6 in the lock rotates a cam 8. As the cam rotates, it moves two or more rolling bodies 14, positioned equiangularly within the lock mechanism, into corresponding grooves on the interior surface of the bush 3. When the rolling bodies are located in the grooves, the steering would be locked in an operable state. When the rolling bodies are not located in the grooves, the bush would be free to rotate around the steering support post, rendering the bicycle unsteerable.

Description

STEERING SUPPORT LOCK -----------------------------------------

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The Invention relates to a steering support and Security Lock especially for a bicycle.

BACKGROUND Conventionally, cycle security is applied by attaching a shaped devise to the bicycle frame and a none removable object, temporarily connecting the two objects together to restrict movement.

It is an object of the invention to provide a steering support and security lock, Which meets the requirements of most cyclists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a steering support lock as set forth in the appended claims.

The steering support and security lock contains a rotating bush, that is placed over the upper part of the support tube, This rotating bush may be operated advantageously in the rotating position, To allow any object attached to its outer surface area to swivel in unison with the bushes rotational axis.

The support tube is placed and fixed from rotating within the Down-Tube of the bicycles front forks, by a sliding wedge shape and long bolt. The lower part of the support tube is detachable and universal to accomodate different length and diameter parts.

The rotating bush is prevented at will from swivelling, By projecting round balls and a rectangular round rods outwardly through the side walls of the upper section of the fixed support tube, travelling through round and elongated holes, Engaging into round, and elongated slots formed on the internal walls of the rotating bush.

The Projecting round balls, and longitudinal round rods could be made from a solid metal substance, or hollow metal tube.

The solid rod or hollow tube section held vertical, would travel inwardly and outwardly horizontal in direction. A round metal ball is placed at each end of the longitudinal rod, that also moves inwardly and outwardly horizontal in direction at the same time as the vertical rod.

The round balls, and longitudinal round rods are moved inwardly or outwardly horizontally by placing a vertically held longitudinal, oval ! round, cross-sectioned rod, in the centre line of the upper section of the support tube internal cavity. When turning the vertically held centralized oval ! round cross-sectioned rod clockwise or anticlockwise in rotation, the round metal balls and round metal longitudinal rods move inwardly or outwardly in direction by traversing across the surface of the centralized longitudinal, oval ! round cross-sectioned rod in unison with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings : figure: 1/17 is a longitudinal and cross-section view of the quill support tube, in accordance with the invention. figure: 2/17 is a longitudinal and cross-section view of the lock retainer bush, positioned at the top of the steering support tube fig 12/17. figure: 3/17 is a longitudinal and cross-section view of the rotating bush, positioned on the top and over the steering support tube fig 12/17. figure: 4/17 is a longitudinal and cross-section view of the top rotating sleeve, positioned over the top of fig 2/17. figure: 5/17 and 7/17 is the longitudinal section view of a lock/body and lower square drive, in accordance with the invention. figure: 6/17 is a typical longitudinal view of a key blank, in accordance with the invention. figure: 8/17 is a longitudinal and cross-section view of the oval/round cross-section rod. This part locates itself in the top internal cavity of fig 12/17 steering support tube. figure: 9/17 is a longitudinal and cross-section view of the bottom rotating ring sleeves, covering the lower section of the quill support tube. fig 1/17. figure: 10/11/17 is a longitudinal view of the sliding metal wedge and bolt, used to clamp fig 1/17 within the down-tube of the bicycles front forks. figure: 12/17 illustrates the steering support tube that slides into the top of fig 1/17 the quill support tube. figure: 13/17 is a spacer bush placed over and sliding down over 12/17, the spacer bushes are located at the top and bottom of fig 3/17 to aid centralization of the rotating bush. figure: 14/17 is a longitudinal view of the metal rod and the metal balls used for the locking mechanism used in conjunction with fig 3/17 and 12/17. figure: 15/17 is a Horizontal view of a bicycle handlebar headstem bracket, damped over and revolves with fig 3/17, rotating bush. figure: 16/17 shows a plastic cap used to protect the lock body internais, viewed in fig 5/17 cross-section. figure: 17/17 is a compiled view of a completed bicycle, steering support lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference firstly to figure 1/17, The quill support tube consists essentially of a longitudinal tube member.

Its formed with an outwardly-extending flange, positioned at the top, and a 30. angle cut off its lower part to form a wedge shape.

At the flanged end of fig 1/17, fig 12/17 is inserted into the hollow end of fig 7 to connect the two parts together via a short stub axle located at the bottom end of fig 12/17.

Elongated slots, positioned at respective 180 increments are shown in figure 12/17 to assist in the vertical longitudinal rods and balls to pass from its central cavity outwardly or return inwardly to the resting position.

The lock retainer bush figure 2/17 is secured to the upper part of the support tube member 12/17 and is fixed in a semi-permanent position, By formed screw threaded cavities positioned at the top and bottom of figure 2/17. Leading from the exterior surface through the side walls of the lock retainer bush for attachment purposes.

A cylindrical lock-body figure 5/17 is positioned inside the top cavity of figure 2/17 and is fixed from rotating using opposing threaded rod type screws.

The rotating bush figure 3/17 is positioned over the upper part of figure 12/17 and is lowered down to the lower exterior flange of fig 12/17.

Figure 3/17 has two internal double pocket cavity slots positioned together and opposite each other and extending, Two-thirds of the longitudinal length of the rotating bush.

The second exterior slot allows the vertical rod and metal balls to locate themselves in the first slot, but has no contact support along the rod and balls centre line. This increases

physical rod and ball side movement horizontally. I - Reference to figure-S/17-the'oval-and-round-seetioned rod. -The upper 15% section of-the rod is shaped round and tube like in appearance, with a hollow square section cavity shaped part way internally to receive, the square and rectangular shaped bar extending from the lower section of figure 5/17.

The lower 10% section of figure S/17 is shaped round and solid with opposing grooves shaped longitudinally along its full 10% length. The centre section containing about 75% of the rods full length is oval shaped on opposing sides. and may incorperate centrally a cross-sectionally flat section to accomodate the vertical rods and balls in the resting position.

The top rotating sleeve figure 4/17 is positioned over figure 2/17, to prevent gaining access to the bottom threaded cavity holes, positioned at the bottom section of fig 2/17 assembly.

A cavity hole is positioned at the upper end of the top rotating sleeve through its side wall to give access to the two top threaded cavity holes in figure 2/17.

Figure 5/17 is a cylindrical lock body that is situated in the upper cavity of figure 2/17, and is secured from rotating by two opposing screw threaded rods.

Attached to the lower half of figure 5/17 is a square and rectangular shaped bar, containing internal screw threads for attachment.

The lock key blank figure 6/17 when inserted internally into the lock body 5/17 and rotated will rotate the square shaped bar, when attached to the bottom section of the lock body figure 5/17.

It is in the interest of the invention to utilize the cylindrical lock body and key to rotate the square and rectangular bar, when inserted from above into the top cavity of figure 8/17 to enhance its rotational ease of operation.

Figure 9/17 has two bottom rotating sleeves positioned over the bottom section of figure 1/17 to prevent access to this area, please see drawing figure 17/17.

The sleeve may be longer or shorter in its longitudinal length.

Figure 10/and 11/17 are used to secure the lower section of figure 1/17 from rotating within the Down-Tube of the bicycles front forks by forcing the 30 angled wedge to make surface contact and slide against the 30. angled slope at the bottom of the tube in figure 1/17.

The wedge is assisted in forcing itself across the contacting surfaces by being constricted by a threaded bolt revolving in the cavity threads in figure 11/17.

A plastic cap figure 16/17 is used to restrict ingress of foreign matter entering the lock body of figure 5/17.

The longitudinal metal rods and metal balls in figure 14/17 are used as a locking mechanism. When the rod and metal balls are inserted through the side walls of fig 12/17, when connecting with the double cavity pockets in fig 3/17 they still remain 50% in the pocket in fig 3/17 and 50% in the tube wall of fig 12/17, this prevents fig 3/17 from rotating about its own axis.

Figure 15/17 is a fixing and support bracket. The cylindrical part of the bracket is lowered over the top of figure 3/17 and secured by clamping its interior body surface around the outer body surface of figure 3/17, preventing itself from moving until the rotating bush in figure 3/17 is allowed to rotate about its own axis. figure 13/17 is two plastic spacers positioned at the top and bottom of fig 3/17 to centrally position the rotational bush when being rotated around its own axis.

The completed steering support lock in figure 17/17, is a compiled view of a completed steering support lock ready for use.

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A steering support tube and lock, comprising of a vertically fixed tubular steering support tube member, with four radially-disposed holes and two elongated slots joined together and positioned at respective 1800 increments opposite each other, and spaced along its external upper longitudinal axis. With a rotating bush positioned over the upper part of the tube member and lowered down to an exterior extending flange positioned at the bottom half along the tubes connection joint. The rotating bush has double connecting cavity pockets in the form of longitudinal grooves positioned on the internal walls of the rotating bush extending, two-thirds of the longitudinal interior length of the bush. These holes or grooves act as permanent fixing locating cavities for the metal balls and vertical metal rods, moving centrally inwardly or outwardly to prevent or allow, the bush from rotational movment. The lower 50% of the tube support quill member is used for height adjustment and securing itself with the down-tube of the bicycles front forks, by a sliding metal wedge positioned at the bottom end of the steering support quill tube.
2. A steering support tube and lock according to claim 1, in which said metal balls and vertical metal rods act against double pocket cavity grooves radially positioned at 1800 within the interior longitudinal surface of the rotating bush to prevent or allow movement rotationally, around the support tube member.
3. A steering support tube and lock according to claim 1. in which said rotating bush is positioned over the upper end of the vertical support tube and rotates about its centre line axis.

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4. A steering support tube and lock according to claim 1, in which said metal balls and vertical longitudinal rods, centrally and radially positioned around the upper part of the tube support member may be two or more in number.
5. A steering support tube and lock according to claim 1, is fixed from rotating from within the down-tube member of the bicycles front forks, by the use of a sliding metal wedge positioned at the bottom end of the quill support tube.
6. A steering support tube and lock according to claim 1, in which said rotating bush placed over the support tube may be left in the rotating position to prevent any object that may be fixed to the outside surface or placed over the bushes exterior, will continue to rotate until action is taken to prevent its movement
7. A steering support tube and lock in accordance to any preceding claims, in which the centrally located vertical round and oval longitudinal bar, used to move the metal balls and vertical longitudinal rods inwardly or outwardly by its contacting surfaces, when being rotated clockwise or anti-dockwise in its central position between the metal balls or vertical rods.
8-A steering support tube and lock in accordance to any preceding claims, in which the top and bottom rotating cover sleeves prevent the covered area from access and prevent an exterior device from being attached to the under surface.
9. A steering support tube and lock, substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1/17 - 17/17 of the accompanied drawings.