GB2511160A

GB2511160A - Securing unit for bicycle carry device

Info

Publication number: GB2511160A
Application number: GB1321041.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chiu-Kuei Wang
Original assignee: King Rack Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: King Rack Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-12-19
Filing date: 2013-11-29
Publication date: 2014-08-27
Also published as: NL1040524C2; DE102013020556A1; NL1040524A; FR2999520A1; TWM450525U; GB201321041D0

Abstract

A unit 20 for securing bicycles to a carrier such as a U-shaped towbar mounted bike carrier. The securing unit 20 has a steel cable 35 which can be wrapped around the frame parts of a bicycle (fig 11). One end of the cable 35 is connected to the bicycle carrier and the other end has a plate 30 with a notch 31 in the side. The plate 30 is to be inserted into a slot 27 in the securing unit 20. The securing unit 20 has a lock with a core 24 rotatable by a key 242 where the core 24 acts to turn a locking member 26 into the slot 27. When the plate 30 is in the slot 27 and the locking member 26 is rotated it moves into the slot 27 to engage with the notch 31 in the side of the plate 30 to lock the device. The cable 35 can be retracted into the carrier.

Description

SECURING UNIT FOR BICYCLE CARRY DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the invention

The present invention relates to a bicycle carry device, and more particularly, to a securing unit for a bicycle carry device and the securing unit having a lock to secure the bicycle to the bicycle carry device.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

The conventional bicycle carry device is designed to be coimected at the rear end of a vehicle and the bicycles are secured to the bicycle carry device so as to be transported with the vehicle to the destinations. The commonly used securing units for the bicycle carry device are belts which are removably connected to the bicycle carry device and secure the top tubes or other parts of the bicycle frames. However, these belts are removable so that the bicycles are not safe if the belts are removed by unauthorized persons. Some uses purchase cable locks to lock the bicycles to the bicycle carry device to ensure the bicycles are well protected.

Nevertheless, the cable locks have to be stored and purchased individually, in other words, the cable locks are easily lost.

The present invention intends to provide a securing unit for a bicycle carry device and the securing unit is connected with the bicycle carry device so as to improve the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a securing unit of a bicycle carry device and comprises a connection unit connected to the bicycle carry device and having a mounting part and a lock. The mounting part is mounted to the bicycle carry device and the lock has a core which is rotatable by using a key. A locking member is pivotably connected to the rear end of the core and an insertion hole is defined in the lock and communicates with the locking member. The locking member is controlled by the core to be pivoted into the insertion hole. A plate is connected with the first end of a steel cable, and the second end of the steel cable is fixed to the bicycle carry device. The plate has a notch defined in at least one side thereof The plate is inserted into the insertion hole and the locking member is pivoted to be engaged with the notch to lock a bicycle to the bicycle carry device.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a securing unit for a bicycle carry device, wherein the securing unit is equipped with a lock.

The advantages of the present invention are that the securing unit of the present invention is equipped with a lock which does not need to be purchased individually, and the user does not worry the storage of the lock when not in use.

The plate of the securing unit has notches for being cooperated with the locking member of the lock. There is a steel cable connected between the plate and the bicycle carry device, so that the steel cable is wrapped to the bicycle before the plate is connected to the lock so that the bicycle is well protected.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view to show the securing unit and the bicycle carry device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the securing unit and the bicycle carry device of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the securing unit and the plate of the present invention; Fig. 4A shows the securing unit and the bicycle carry device of the present mvention; Fig. 4B is an enlarged view to show the connection between the steel cable and the post of the bicycle carry device of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a side cross sectional view to show that the key is inserted into the lock and has not yet rotated; Fig. 6 is a side cross sectional view to show that the key is inserted into the lock and rotated Fig. 7 is an end cross sectional view to show that the key is inserted into the lock and has not yet rotated; Fig. 8 is an end cross sectional view to show that the key is inserted into the lock and rotated, and Figs. 9 to 11 shows the continuous actions for operating the steel cable and the plate to secure a bicycle to the bicycle carry device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figs. I, 2, 3, 4A and 4B, the present invention comprises a securing unit of a bicycle carry device 10 and the bicycle carry device 10 has an upright post 11 and a U-shaped support frame 13 which is connected horizontally on the top of the post 11. The support frame 13 has multiple removable clamps 15 connected thereto so as to secure the bicycle 40. The lower end of the post 11 is connected with a hitch or the like on the rear end of a vehicle (not shown).

A connection unit 20 is connected to one of two extensions of the support frame 13 of the bicycle carry device 10 and comprises a mounting part 21 and a lock 22. The mounting part 21 has a C-shaped portion and a passage 211 is defined through the C-shaped portion. The support frame 13 extends through the passage 211 and the lock 22 is located to be perpendicular to the axis of the passage 211. The lock 22 has a core 24 which is rotatable by using a key 242 inserted into a keyhole 241 of the core 24. The core 24 has a bead unit 25 as shown in Fig. 5 so as to be cooperated with the key 242, such that when a correct key 242 is used, the bead unit 25 moves to allow the core 24 to be rotatable in the casing 23 of the lock 22. A locking member 26 is pivotably connected to the rear end of the core 24 and the locking member 26 is a semi-circular block. An insertion hole 27 is defined in the lock 22 and communicates with the locking member 26 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The locking member 26 is controlled by the core 24 to be pivoted into the insertion hole 27 or not.

A plate 30 is connected with the first end of a steel cable 35, and the second end of the steel cable 35 is fixed to the bicycle carry device 10.

The plate 30 has semi-circular notch 31 defined in each of the two sides thereof The plate 30 is inserted into the insertion hole 27 and the locking member 26 is pivoted to be engaged with one of the notches 31 so that the plate 30 is not able to be pulled out from the insertion hole 27.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4a, 4B, the plate 30 has a base 36 which is connected to the post 11. The base 36 has an aperture 361 and the second end of the steel cable 35 extends through the aperture 361 and is fixed in the post 11. The steel cable 35 can be scrolled and stored in the base 36 and the post 11. The base 36 has a recessed area 362 in the front side thereof and the plate 30 can be received in the recessed area 362 as shown in Fig. 1. A S finger notch is defined in the lower end of the recessed area 362 so that the user can push the plate 30 out from the recessed area 362 as shown in Fig. 2 so that the plate 30 and the steel cable 35 can be pulled.

As shown in Fig. 9, the bicycle 40 is secured on the support frame 13 by the clamps 15 and the plate 30 is pulled from the base 36 on the post 11 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 to warp the steel cable 35 to the bicycle 40.

As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the key 242 in the keyhole 241 is rotated to rotate the core 24 to pivot the locking member 26 away from the insertion hole 27.

The plate 30 is then inserted into the insertion hole 27, and the key 242 is rotated again to pivot the locking member 26 into the insertion hole 27 and engaged with the notch 31 of the plate 30. Therefore, the plate 30 cannot be pulled out from the insertion hole 27. The key 242 is then removed from the keyhole 241 and the bicycle 40 is locked to the bicycle carry device 10.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED iS: 1. A securing unit of a bicycle carry device, comprising: a connection unit connected to the bicycle carry device and having a mounting part and a lock, the mounting part mounted to the bicycle carry device, the lock having a core which is rotatable by using a key, a locking member pivotably connected to a rear end of the core, an insertion hole defined in the lock and communicating with the locking member, the locking member being controlled by the core to be pivoted into the insertion hole, and a plate connected with a first end of a steel cable, a second end of the steel cable fixed to the bicycle carry device, the plate having a notch defined in at least one side thereof, the plate inserted into the insertion hole and the locking member being pivoted to be engaged with the notch to lock a bicycle to the bicycle carry device.
2. The securing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bicycle carry device has an upright post and a U-shaped support frame which is connected horizontally on a top of the post, the plate is connected to the post and the connection unit is connected to the support frame.
3. The securing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plate has a base which is connected to the post, the second end of the steel cable is fixed in the post, the base has an aperture and the steel cable extends though the aperture, the base has a recessed area in which the plate is received.
4. The securing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate has a semi-circular notch defined in each of the two sides thereoL the locking member is a semi-circular block.
5. The securing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mounting part has a C-shaped portion and a passage is defined through the C-shaped portion, the support frame extends through the passage, the lock is located to be perpendicular to an axis of the passage.
6. A securing unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.