GB2476796A - Bicycle lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A bicycle lock comprising a belt portion 1 which is a flexible hollow tube inside which a chain 3 is located. When used as a locking device, a securing device, for example a padlock 4 is used to secure both ends of the chain 3 together (see Figure 3). The padlock has an aperture or eyelet opening 8 in it through which a portion 5 of the belt 1 is fed. The belt portion is then secured to the rest of the belt using, for example, hook and loop fasteners 7 (see Figure 1), the eyelet opening 8 allows the length of the belt to be adjusted, allowing users to secure the belt around their waist when riding a bicycle (see Figure 6). The belt may alternatively be placed over the shoulder of the rider (see Figure 7). Also claimed is an attachment device for attaching the securing device 4 to the body of a person using the eyelet 8 to form a loop in a connecting portion 5 with a hook and loop attachment portion 5 for maintaining the loop in use.

Description

Locking Device The present invention relates to a locking device for use with bicycles and otherhigh value transportable articles, such as snowboards, and the need to transport the aforementioned locking device. The invention is a solution for comfortable, ergonomically efficient transportation of the locking device by being worn on the user's body, for example around the waist.

Bicycle theft is an unfortunate part of bicycle usage, and is generally a larger problem in densely populated urban areas where the bicycle is used primarily as a mode of transportation. Therefore the use of a bicycle lock is a necessary part of bicycle usage whenever a bicycle is used to transport its rider to a destination where there is the possibility that the bicycle could be left unattended for any time at all.

Most bicycles are stolen for the following reasons: They are not locked at all; they are locked with a lock that is very weak and easily broken; the bike is locked, but not in a particularly secure way.

When a bike is not locked at all, this means the rider decided not to use a lock for the following reasons: The rider knew that the bicycle would only be left unattended for a short time, making the chances of a theft less likely; the rider does not want to carry a lock around, because it is cumbersome; the rider does not want to take a bag with them for the only reason of transporting the lock.

When a person does choose to use a bicycle lock they currently have 4 options when transporting it for use at their destination: Attach or "hang" the lock to the bike whilst riding; put the lock in a bag or rucksack; leave lock in situ (only practical if lock is used in same place at all timesJ; loop around their neck or waist (if it is a flexible lock); or carry it on their person.

There are a number of different types of lock on the market, but none are designed specifically to be worn on the body. Some chain locks can be worn around the body, if their length is suitable, and this is how some bicycle couriers carry them.

These people are accomplished riders and trend setters within the bicycle world who spend a lot of time on their bicycles and need a practical and speedy way of transporting their lock. However, none of these locks are designed to be worn like in this way, and therefore these locks can be uncomfortable, difficult, and for some even impossible to use in such a way.

D-locks, for example, are secure but generally considered difficult to transport if the user does not have either a bag or a bicycle attachment for attaching the lock to a bicycle.

Wearing a flexible lock around the waist or on another part of the body has a number of benefits. There is no need to attach lock to bike. Attaching the lock to the bike can have a number of disadvantages: The lock can scratch the bike; the lock can make the bike unsightly due to the bracket needed for the lock. These brackets are more often than not insufficient quality and can break, meaning the lock must be carried in another way. The lock can make the bicycle unstable and more difficult to ride, especially when the lock is hung from a handlebar, for example.

Having the weight of the lock around the rider's waist is an ergonomically sound position> as the majority of the weight is translated directly to the hip bones, resulting in less strain on the rider's body, meaning that the rider's centre of gravity is less affected than if the lock was in a rucksack or bag.

This also means that any bag being carried is not made heavier, resulting in less strain on the parts of the rider's body to which the bag is attached. Having less weight in the bag being carried, the rider is also more stable and safe, due to the lack of uneven weight distribution that can result from carrying a heavy bag while on a bicycle. Carrying the lock outside the bag also provides more space in the bag for other objects to be carried.

There are chain locks currently on the market that can be put around the waist, or over the shoulder, but they are not designed to be worn in such a way and can therefore be uncomfortable and cumbersome to use.

The aim of the invention is to take the advantages of using a flexible yet strong impact resistant locking device for use on small articles (e.g. bicycles, snowboards), such as a steel linked chain and padlock> and integrate unique features to create a product that minimises the disadvantages of this type of locking device when said device is to be worn or carried on the body.

According to the present invention there is provided a locking device for securing a bicycle or other moveable object to an anchoring point, comprising: locking means for secure releasable connection of each end of a securing portion thereby to lock the object into engagement with the anchoring point; and adjustable attachment means for releasably attaching the locking device to a body of a person; characterised in that the locking means has an integral opening allowing for receipt and adjustment of the attachment means.

The present invention provides a locking device for use with a bicycle or other transportation device, that is designed specifically to be worn on the body in a waist belt like fashion with true waist/length adjustment.

The securing portion may be flexible such that it may be worn around the body of a user, held in place by the attachment portion.

The securing portion may be a chain or a cable. A chain or a cable can provide the desired level of flexibility, in combination with a desired strength and resistance to attack from potential thieves of the bicycle or vehicle.

The securing portion may pass through at least a part of the attachment portion.

This can allow the attachment portion to have a double function as a cushion between the user and the securing portion and may also allow the attachment portion to hold the securing portion in place around the body of a user.

The attachment portion may encircle the securing portion at a number of points along its length. This allows the securing portion to be better held around the body of a user by the attachment portion and also allows more effective cushioning of the user from the securing portion.

The attachment portion may comprise a sleeve for receiving the securing portion. This can allow improved holding of the securing portion around the body of a user and may further improve cushioning between the user and the securing portion.

The attachment portion may comprises an adjustment portion for adjusting a length of the attachment portion. This can allow a securing portion of any length to be held around the body of a user, without the need for the length of the securing portion to correspond the size of the user's body.

The securing means may comprise a loop or a hook disposed substantially at a first end of the securing means and the attachment portion may comprise a strap disposed toward a second end of the securing means, such that the strap may be passed through the ioop or hook to form a ioop of adjustable length for attachment around the body of a person.

The strap may comprises a releasable fastening forfastening a part of the strap to the attachment means once passed through the loop. This allows the overall length of the loo formed for passing around the body of the user to be adjusted and readjusted for different users or size requirements.

The locking device may have first and second connectors disposed at first and second points on its length, the connectors arranged to be detachably connected to one another to form a loop comprising at least a part of the attachment portion and/or the securing portion.

The first connector may comprise a loop and the second connector may comprise a strap for passing through the loop. This allows the length adjustment to be provided for adjusting the length to a user or application.

The first connector may comprise an adjustment portion for adjusting the point at which the first connector is located on the attachment portion. This further allows The overall loop length of the device to be adjusted when the connectors are connected to one another.

The first and second connectors may comprise a quick release buckle. This allows the quick release and reattachment of the device around the body of a user.

The adjustment portion may comprises a ladder lock to allow ease of adjustment of the length of the device.

The securing portion may be of variable length, such that its length may vary with the adjusted length of the attachment portion. This allows the securing portion to be substantially contained within the attachment portion, which can make the device easier to handle and to transport when not in use to secure a vehicle.

The securing portion may be a chain of linkage elements, arranged such that the overall length of the chain can be shortened by pushing the linkage elements toward one another, and extended by pulling the linkage elements away from one another, whilst remaining securely linked together. This can provide the desired adjustable length in the securing portion.

The securing portion may comprise a locking means, the locking means may comprising a loop, a hook or ladder lock, the loop, hook or ladder lock may be arranged such that a releasing portion for the locking means can be accessed while a part of the attachment means is located in the loop, hook or ladder lock. This allows the device to be used as a lock without the need to detach the strap. This makes the change of mode from locking a vehicle to attached to a user to be made more quickly and easily.

The device may further comprise a reflective portion disposed so as to be visible when the locking device is arranged around the body of a person. This provides the double function of the device as a safety device when worn by the user.

An attachment device for attaching a securing device to a body of a person, the attachment device comprising a receiving portion for receiving the securing device, and connecting means for connecting first and second ends of the attaching means to the securing device, to form a loop comprising the attaching means and the securing device, such that the ioop may be arranged around the body of a person.

The attachment device may be used in combination with a standard chain or lock to provide more convenient and ergonomically suitable attachment of a standard lock to a user.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locking device of the present invention when configured for transporting; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention in an open state; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention in a locking arrangement; Figure 4 illustrates the chain or cable of the invention in a compressed state; Figure 5 illustrates the chain/cable in an extended state; Figures 6 & 7 show the intended position of the product to be worn on the body when standing and cycling.

Figures 8a-c shows an alternative buckle arrangement which could be integrated in to the locking portion of the product. This would mean the the fabric loop need not be threaded back through to remove the belt but simply unclipped. The fabric loop could then be fastened using hook and loop or an alternative method.

A locking device in accordance with the present invention may be comprised of the following components: 1. Fabric Sleeve 2. Threaded bolt fastening 3. Chain or cable 4. Case Hardened Padlock 5. Strap 6. Small Hook and loop fastening 7. Large Hook and loop fastening 8. Padlock outer casing with integrated Loop for strap In the example illustrated in Figure 1, a securing portion is provided in the form of chain/cable (3), which passes through the entire length of an attachment portion for attaching the device to the body of a person, the attachment portion in the illustrated example takes the form of the fabric sleeve (1) and strap (5), which allows the device to be formed into a loop of adjustable length, to allow attachment of the device to the body of a person. The chain/cable(3) is fixed permanently to the sleeve (1) at one end via a rivet or tightening bolt (2) and is fixed semi permanently at the other end via a hook and loop fastening (6) or other fixing mechanism. The permanently fixed end of the chain/cable (3) can remain attached to the locking means (4) at all times if required for rapid conversion from being worn as a belt to use as a security lock.

Locking means (4) may be provided in the form of padlock, or any other suitable locking device, such as a combination lock or other locking means used in the art.

Locking means (4) itself has a specially configured design and shape, with an integrated belt loop eyelet opening (8) for the webbing strap (5) to pass through.

This webbing strap (5) passes through the locking means (4) on the users body side (i.e. the inside) of the belt, doubles back on itself through the integrated eyelet opening (8) and is then fixed onto the sleeve (1) via hook and loop fastening panels (7) or other suitable releasable fixing mechanism.

The relationship between the locking means (4), strap (5) and the sleeve (1) gives the product its waist/length adjustment. The strap (5) passes through and is fixed to the inside of the sleeve (1) along its entire length, which increases the amount of material between the chain/cable (3) and the user's body, therefore increasing the comfort level. As the chain/cable (3) is permanently fixed to the sleeve (1) at one end only, the chain/cable (3) itself can be compressed within the sleeve (1) resulting in an ergonomically and aesthetically desirable outcome, in that the total usable length of the chain/cable (3) is not exposed but it is kept within the sleeve (1). If the extra chain length is required for locking purposes, the semi permanent fastening (6) can be released in order to allow the securing portion to extend beyond the length of the attachment portion (1).

The relationship between the padlock with integrated eyelet opening (4&8), strap (5) and the sleeve (1) gives the product its waist/length adjustment. The strap (5) passes through and is fixed to the inside of the sleeve (1) along its entire length which increases the amount of material between the chain/cable (3) and the user's body, increasing the comfort level.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention showing the belt strap (5) unconnected to the padlock eyelet, and showing the releasable fastening (7), which is not visible in Figure 1. This is the configuration of the product when the product is held by the user before fastening around the body into the configuration shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention when the chain/cable (3) is fixed to the padlock at both ends and is therefore being used as a lock to fix the bicycle (not shown) or other transportation device (not shown) to another object (not shown).

Strap (5) has been detached from semi permanent fastening (7) in order to expose an end of the securing portion chain/cable (3) to allow the locking means (4) to engage with two ends of the securing means.

Figure 4 is a plan view which illustrates how the chain or cable of securing portion (3) can be compressed within the outer sleeve, resulting in less overall length of chain/cable within the sleeve (1). The result is more waist/length adjustment in the product. Securing portion (3) may be of a greater length than is required to attach the locking device the body of a user. Since its length may be reduced as shown in the figure by moving the linkage elements in the chain nearer to one another, the length of securing portion (3) may still be usefully and comfortably attached to the body of a user by being substantially contained within the length of the sleeve of attachment portion (1).

Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating the chain/cable when released from the fixing (6) at the non-padlock end, allowing the full length of chain/cable or securing portion (3) to be used if required for locking purposes.

Figure 6 shows the intended position of the product to be worn on the body when standing. The weight of securing means (3) is evenly distributed around the hip region of the user and some padding is provided by sleeve (1) to increase the comfort of the user when wearing the device in this arrangement. Other arrangements of the device around the body may be envisaged, such as over the shoulder of the user, for example.

Figure 7 shows the position of the product worn on the body when cycling, equivalent to that shown in Figure 6. Again, other arrangements of the device around the body may be envisaged, such as over the shoulder of the user, for

example.

Figures 8 (a), (b) and (c) show an alternative means of securing the attachment portion, to replace the strap with the hook and loop fastening shown in Figure 1. In the example shown in Figure 8, locking means (10) may comprise a portion for engaging with a quick release buckle/clip (11). This may be used in place of the hook and loop fastening (7) in Figure 2. The strap, which may be made from webbing in this or any other of the illustrated examples, is adjusted and held at a chosen adjustment length by the ladder lock part of the clip (11). The term ladder lock is used to refer to the loop arrangement through which strap (9) passes, as illustrated in Figure 8 (a). Ladder locks are used for the adjustment of straps on items such as bags or luggage. In place of the ladder lock arrangement, any other form of strap adjustment may be used. The ladder lock feature may be integrated into the main buckle housing, or as a plastic moulding (11) which clips into the housing of locking means (10). The side of the buckle could then be pressed in the direction of the arrows in Figure 8 to remove the buckle similar to existing quick release buckles found on bags and luggage straps.

The locking means (10) of Figure 8, has a ioop, in the form of a ladder lock in this example, through which strap (9) passes to provide the required length adjustment.

The loop may be replaced by a hook or a simple loop, without the ladder lock configuration, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The hook, loop or ladder lock is configured such that when strap (9) passes through, it is still possible to access a release portion of the locking means (10). The release portion may be a keyhole for receiving a key, or means for entering a required combination where locking means (10) uses a combination lock, or any other mechanism or arrangement for releasing the locking means (10).

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS1. A locking device for securing a bicycle or other moveable object to an anchoring point, comprising: locking means for secure releasable connection of each end of a securing portion thereby to lock the object into engagement with the anchoring point; and adjustable attachment means for releasably attaching the locking device to a body of a person; characterised in that the locking means has an integral opening allowing for receipt and adjustment of the attachment means.
2. 2. A flexible locking device according to claim 1, wherein the securing portion is a chain or a cable.
3. 3. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the securing portion passes through at least a part of the attachment means.
4. 4. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means encircles the securing portion at a number of points along its length.
5. 5. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means comprises a sleeve for receiving the securing portion.
6. 6. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means comprises an adjustment portion for adjusting a length of the attachment portion.
7. 7. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means comprises a strap disposed toward an end of the locking device, such that the strap may be passed through the integral opening of the locking means to form a loop of adjustable length for attachment around the body of a person.
8. 8. A locking device according to claim 8, wherein the strap comprises a releasable fastening for fastening a part of the strap to the securing portion once passed through the loop.
9. 9. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the securing portion is of variable length, such that its length may vary with the adjusted length of the attachment means.
10. 10. A locking device according to claim 11, wherein the securing portion is a chain of linkage elements, arranged such that the overall length of the chain can be shortened by pushing the linkage elements toward one another, and extended by pulling the linkage elements away from one another, whilst remaining securely linked together.
11. 11. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the securing portion comprises a locking means, the locking means comprising a loop, a hook or ladder lock, the loop, hook or ladder lock arranged such that a releasing portion for the locking means can be accessed while a part of the attachment means is located in the loop, hook or ladder lock.
12. 12. A locking device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a reflective portion disposed so as to be visible when the locking device is arranged around the body of a person.
13. 13. An attachment device for attaching a securing device to a body of a person, the attachment device comprising a receiving portion for receiving the securing device, and connecting means for connecting first and second ends of the attaching means to the securing device, to form a loop comprising the attaching means and the securing device, such that the loop may be arranged around the body of a person.