GB2535155A

GB2535155A - A bicycle

Info

Publication number: GB2535155A
Application number: GB1502074.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Hulme Alexander
Original assignee: SINCLAIR INRIS Ltd
Current assignee: SINCLAIR INRIS Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-06
Filing date: 2015-02-06
Publication date: 2016-08-17
Also published as: GB201502074D0

Abstract

A bicycle comprises a frame 4 and includes protection means 18 for affording protection from theft of the bicycle 2 and also for affording protection from lower limb injury to a rider of the bicycle 2 in the event of an accident. The protection means 18 comprises a lock (14, figure 3) for locking the bicycle 2 to an object, and the lock (14) comprises the protection means 18 which both secures to the bicycle 2 and acts as a lower limb protector in the event of an accident.

Description

A BICYCLE

This invention relates to a bicycle. More especially, this invention relates to a bicycle having protection means for affording protection from theft of the bicycle, and also for affording protection from lower limb injury to a rider of the bicycle in the event of an accident.

Bicycles are widely used as a mode of transport. They suffer from two problems. The first problem is that a bicycle needs to be locked securely if it is left in a public place. If it is not locked securely then it is very likely to be stolen. Thieves are known to cut through locks having chains and cables. In order to prevent this, the lock needs to be of a strong construction. Often the strong construction causes the lock to be bulky and this may cause a problem of storage when the bicycle is being used and the lock needs to be stored on the bicycle or on a rider of the bicycle.

Known bicycles also suffer from a second problem in that a bicycle does not offer protection from lower limb injury to a rider of the bicycle in the event of an accident. For example, if a bicycle should slip on a wet or icy surface and slide along the road, then the lower legs and feet of the rider of the bicycle are not offered any protection from injury. Also, for example, if the bicycle should be struck by a vehicle then there is again no protection from injury to the lower part of the legs and feet of the rider of the bicycle.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned two problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a bicycle comprisiig a frame, handlebars, wheels and pedals, and characterised in that the bicycle includes protection means for affording protection from theft of the bicycle and also for affording protection from lower limb injury to a rider of the bicycle in the event of an accident, the protection means being such that it comprises a lock for locking the bicycle to an object whereby the bicycle is protected from theft, and the lock being such that it comprises a body portion which secures to the bicycle when the bicycle is not locked to the object and which acts as a lower limb protector in the event of an accident.

The bicycle of the present invention is advantageous in that the prbtection means is able to afford both the protection from the theft and also the protection from the lower limb injury. The lock is constructed such that its is able to provide both a first function of locking the bicycle to the object in order to protect the bicycle from theft, and also a second function of having the body portion which secures to the bicycle when the bicycle is not locked to the object and which acts as the lower limb protector in the event of an accident. Thus the protection means affords the two advantages. In addition, when the protection means is not being used for its locking facility, there is no need to worry about inconvenient storage of the protection means because the protection means is then secured to the bicycle in its lower limb protector mode of use. Thus the protection means is not only stored on the bicycle but it also serves an extremely useful purpose.

The bicycle may be one in which the body portion of the protector means extends from one side of the bicycle and thus offers lower limb protection on one side only of the bicycle. If desired however the body portion of the protection means may be constructed such that it extends from both sides of the bicycle.

When the body portion of the protection means extends from one side only of the bicycle, then the bicycle may be one in which the side of the bicycle not having the body portion has an independent lower limb protector forming part of the protection means. The independent lower limb protector is preferably permanently secured to the bicycle. If desired however the independent lower limb protector may be removably secured to the bicycle.

Preferably, the body portion of the protection means is of the same shape as the independent lower limb protector. If desired however, the body portion of the protection means may be of a different shape to the shape of the independent lower limb protector.

The body portion of the protection means may be of a U-shape. The body portion of the protection means may however be of other shapes if desired.

Preferably, the body portion of the protection means is made of a rigid tube. Also preferably the rigid tube is a solid rigid tube. A hollow rigid tube may however be employed if desired.

The protection means may include a storage portion for receiving a lock closure member. The bicycle may be one in which the storage portion is a hollow central portion of the protection means, and in which the hollow central portion is constructed to receive the lock closure member. In this case, the bicycle may be one in which the hollow central portion has a longitudinally extending bore, in which the lock closure member is a rod, and in which the rod fits in the bore. When the lock closure member is a rod and the body portion is of a U-shape, then the protection means will have a D-shaped portion when the rod is in its anti-theft position.

Preferably, the protection means is such that the lock closure member is lockable in its storage position. If desired however the lock closure member need not be lockable in its storage position.

The bicycle may be one in which the lock closure member is lockable in its storage position by the same locking means as is employed to lock the lock closure member in the position in which the lock locks the bicycle to the object. The locking of the bicycle to the object is preferably by means of a key. Thus, preferably, the same key is able to be used to lock the lock closure member in its storage position. A combination lock or other types of locking member may be employed.

The protection means may be made of a wide variety of materials. The materials employed should be such that they cannot easily be cut or sawn through, in order to help prevent theft of the bicycle when it is locked to an object. The bicycle may be locked to any object in the same way as known bicycles. Thus, for example, the bicycle may be locked to railings or a lamp post.

The bicycle of the present invention may be constructed as known bicycles except that the bicycle of the present invention will include the protection means. The bicycle may be a semi-recumbent bicycle or a more usual upright bicycle. The bicycle may be propelled solely by pedal power. Alternatively, the bicycle may be an electrically-assisted bicycle, for example a battery and an electric drive motor.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a front part of a bicycle and shows the bicycle having protection means in a mode of use for affording protection from theft of the bicycle; Figure 2 is a perspective view like Figure 1 but shows the bicycle having the protection means in a mode of use for affording protection from lower limb injury to a rider of the bicycle in the event of an accident; Figure 3 shows a lock part of the protection means; Figure 4 shows the entire bicycle; Figure 5 is a front view from the rear and one side of the bicycle and illustrates the construction and operation of the protection means; and Figure 6 is a view from the rear and the other side of the bicycle and illustrates further the construction and operation of the protection means.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a bicycle 2 comprising a frame 4, handlebars 6, wheels 8 and pedals 10. The bicycle 2 includes protection means 12 for affording protection from theft of the bicycle 2 and also for affording protection from lower limb injury to a rider of the bicycle 2 in the event of an accident.

The protection means 12 is such that it comprises a lock 14 for locking the bicycle 2 to an object 16, whereby the bicycle 2 is protected from theft. The lock 14 is such that it comprises a body portion 18 which secures to the bicycle 2 when the bicycle 2 is not locked to the object 16, and which acts as a lower limb protector in the event of an accident. As can best be appreciated from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2, the body portion 18 of the protection means 12 extends from one side 20 of the bicycle 2 and thus offers lower limb protection on one side only of the bicycle. The side 22 of the bicycle 2 not having the body portion 18 has an independent lower limb protector 24 which forms part of the protection means 12. The independent lower limb protector 24 is permanently secured to the bicycle 2. As shown in Figure 2, the body portion 18 of the protection means 12 is of the same shape as the independent lower limb protector 24. The body portion of the protection means 12 is of a U-shape. The body portion 18 of the protection means 12 is made of solid rigid tube.

The protection means 12 includes a storage portion 26 for receiving a lock closure member 28. The storage portion 26 is a hollow central portion of the protection means 12. The storage portion 26 in the form of the hollow central portion is such that it is constructed to receive the lock closure member 28. More specifically, the hollow central portion has a longitudinally extending bore 30. The lock closure member 28 is a rod. The lock closure member 28 in the form of the rod fits in the bore 30. When the lock closure member 28 is being used for its locking function, then the lock 14 is of a D-shape as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The protection means 12 is such that the lock closure member 28 is lockable in its storage position in the bore 30. This locking of the lock closure member 28 in its storage position in the bore 30 is effected by the same locking means as is employed to lock the lock closure member 28 in the position shown in Figure 1 in which the lock 14 locks the bicycle 2 to the object 16. This locking means is a key but it could alternatively be a combination lock.

Referring to Figure 5, the front of the bicycle 2 is shown from the side 20 and with the frame 4 having a first hole 32, a second hole 34, and a third hole 36. The lock 14 is not shown in Figure 5. In order to return the lock 14 to the bicycle 2, the rider will put the lock closure member 28 into the third hole 36 which will form part of the bore 30 as can be appreciated from a comparison of Figures 2 and 5. The ends 38, 40 of the lock 14 will then be pushed into the first and second holes 32, 34 respectively. The ends 38, 40 will be pushed into the holes 32, 34 until they locate in holes 42, 44 respectively in the lock closure member 28. Thus the locking of the body portion 18 to the frame 4 to achieve the lower limb protection is effected in the same manner as the locking shown in Figure 1 to afford the theft protection. Locking in the theft protection position shown in Figure 1 or the lower limb protection position shown in Figure 2 is effected by inserting a key 46 into a hole 48 on the side 22 of the frame 4. When the protection means 12 is in its lower limb protecting position, then it can easily be changed to its anti-theft position once a rider of the bicycle 2 has reached a destination. More specifically, the rider then just has to insert the key into the hole 48 in order to unlock the lock closure member 28 from the body portion 18. The lock closure member 28 is then able to be removes from the bore 30 and the body portion 18 is able to be positioned in the theft protecting position shown in Figure 2, whereupon the lock closure member 28 can again be locked to the body portion 18.

The protection means 2 is thus advantageous in that it is able to serve two functions, namely a first anti-theft function and a second lower limb protector function. When the lock 14 is not being used for its theft protection, then it is not only being carried on the bicycle 2 but it is also serving an extremely useful function.

The bicycle 2 is shown as a recumbent bicycle having a basket 50 mounted on a platform 52. The bicycle 2 is also shown with front and rear brakes 54, 56 and a seat enclosure portion 58. The frame 4 is shaped as shown. The protection means 12 secures to the frame 4 as shown.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the bicycle 2 could be an upright bicycle rather than the semi-recumbent bicycle 2. The independent lower limb protector 24 is permanently secured to the rest of the protection means 12 but it could be removably secured if desired. The body portion 18 and the independent lower limb protector 24 are of the same U-shape but they could be of different shapes if desired. Also, shapes other than the illustrated U-shape may be employed. The higher that the protection means 12 is located up the frame 4, then the greater will be the amount of lower limb protection afforded by the protection means 12. The protection means 12 may be located for the part of the frame 4 as shown or it may alternatively be located on a handlebar stem 60 forming part of the bicycle 2. The frame 4 may be of a more traditional design as employed in known upright bicycles. The object 16 has been shown schematically as a post. The object 16 may be any suitable and appropriate anchoring object including, for example, railings or a lamp post. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bicycle comprising a frame, handlebars, wheels and pedals, and characterised in that the bicycle includes protection means for affording protection from theft of the bicycle and also for affording protection from lower limb injury to a rider of the bicycle in the event of an accident, the protection means being such that it comprises a lock for locking the bicycle to an object whereby the bicycle is protected from theft, and the lock being such that it comprises a body portion which secures to the bicycle when the bicycle is not locked to the object and which acts as a lower limb protector in the event of an accident.
2. A bicycle according to claim 1 in which the body portion of the protection means extends from one side of the bicycle and thus offers lower limb protection on one side only of the bicycle.
3. A bicycle according to claim 2 in which the side of the bicycle not having the body portion has an independent lower limb protector forming part of the protection means.
4. A bicycle according to claim 3 in which the independent lower limb protector is permanently secured to the bicycle.
5. A bicycle according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the body portion of the protection means is of the same shape as the independent lower limb protector.
6. A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion of the protection means is of a U-shape.
7. A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion of the protection means is made of a rigid tube.
8. A bicycle according to claim 7 in which the rigid tube is a solid rigid tube.
9. A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the protection means includes a storage portion for receiving a lock closure member.
10. A bicycle according to claim 9 in which the storage portion is a hollow central portion of the protection means, and in which the hollow central portion is constructed to receive the lock closure member.
11. A bicycle according to claim 10 in which the hollow central portion has a longitudinally extending bore, in which the lock closure member is a rod, and in which the rod fits in the bore.
12. A bicycle according to any one of claims 9 -11 in which the protection means is such that the lock closure member is lockable in its storage position.
13. A bicycle according to claim 12 in which the lock closure member is lockable in its storage position by the same locking means as is employed to lock the lock closure member in the position in which the lock locks the bicycle to the object.
14. A bicycle according to claim 12 or claim 13 in which the locking of the bicycle to the object is by means of a key.
15. A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims and which is a semi-recumbent bicycle or an upright bicycle.
16. A bicycle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.