GB2590939A

GB2590939A - A disk lock

Info

Publication number: GB2590939A
Application number: GB2000223.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Milbank Frederick
Original assignee: Milenco Ltd
Current assignee: Milenco Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-08
Filing date: 2020-01-08
Publication date: 2021-07-14
Also published as: GB202000223D0; DE202021100026U1

Abstract

A disk lock comprising a body 12 with a slot 14 and a hole 16 formed perpendicular to the slot through the body; a first element 18 is located in the hole on one side of the slot and a second element 20 is located in the hole on the other side of the slot; a locking mechanism 22 secures the second element to the first element. The first and second elements may be circular. The body may be a tapered wedge shape made of plastics providing a lightweight disc lock with secure first and second locking elements 18, 20 coupled by mechanism 22.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A DISK LOCK

This invention relates to a disk lock.

Almost all modern vehicles are provided with one or more security devices, to prevent the vehicle from being stolen or otherwise interfered with. These security devices commonly take the form of locks and restraining io devices that prevent causal removal of the vehicle being protected and deter more determined thieves from attempting to steal the vehicle in question. Almost all security devices can be overcome by a determined thief given sufficient time and physical resources and so a significant factor in the design of vehicle security devices is the desire to create a device that is as robust as is possible. Any device that can delay or deter a thief for a significant amount of time has value as an effective security device.

For motorcycle owners, there are numerous different security devices available on the market that are arranged to provide additional security over and above that provided by the motorcycle manufacturer. For example, it is common for a motorcycle owner to own a heavy duty chain that can be threaded through a wheel of the motorcycle and then secured to an external object such as a fence or purpose built metal ring using a padlock to secure the chain. Such chains are however, by definition, heavy and bulky and are not always suitable for use in all situations, such as where no suitable external connection is available.

Another option for motorcycle owners to protect their motorcycle from theft is the use of a disk lock which is usually in one of two configurations. The first known disk lock is formed using a pin through a heavy metal unit that slots onto the disk and is secured with the pin through the disk. The second known disk lock is in the form of effectively a dumbbell that passes through the disk and is locked in place. Both of these disk locks have drawbacks. The first type using a pin through a heavy metal unit can be unnecessarily bulky and heavy to use and the second type using a dumbbell through the disk is not as secure as the first type of disk lock and can be difficult to fix in place.

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk lock comprising a body having a slot and a hole formed therein, the axis of the hole lying perpendicular to the plane of the slot, a first weight located in the hole on one side of the slot, a second weight located in the hole and comprising a first portion located on the opposite side of the slot to the first weight and a second portion passing through the slot and the first weight, and a locking mechanism arranged to lock the second weight to the first weight. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of securing a disk lock to a brake disk of a motorcycle wheel comprising receiving a disk lock according to the first aspect of the invention, locating the slot of the body of the disk lock on the brake disk, inserting the second weight into the hole of the body of the disk lock and through the brake disk, and engaging the locking mechanism of the disk lock to lock the second weight to the first weight.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a security device for use on a motorcycle that is relatively small and lightweight but has good security functionality when connected to a motorcycle. The disk lock is designed to be connected to the brake disk of a motorcycle and locked onto the brake disk. A motorcycle with the disk lock connected thereto cannot be ridden while the lock is in place and the structure of the disk lock makes it very difficult to remove by an unauthorised person. The weights that provide the impediment to the rotational of the motorcycle wheel are enclosed within the body of the disk lock and cannot be accessed directly. A robust and effective lock is provided that cannot easily be broken or otherwise interfered with. The disk lock is easier to use as the body of the lock helps to align the weights in the disk lock, when the lock is being placed in position on a motorcycle disk brake.

A user has a more lightweight but still secure disk lock that is easier to install and handle.

Preferably, the body is wedge shaped and the hole is located at the narrow end of the wedge. The slot is also wedge shaped and is open at the narrow end of the wedge. The wedge shape of the body of the disk lock and the positioning and shape of the hole and slot allows the lock to be easily located in position when in use on the brake disk of a motorcycle wheel, while also providing as much bulk as possible, to deter any potential thief and also to protect the internal components of the disk lock to the greatest extent. The wheel of the motorcycle cannot be rotated while the disk lock is in position, secured to the brake disk of the wheel in question.

Advantageously, the first portion of the second weight is thicker than the second portion of the second weight. The second weight is preferably constructed so that it has a tapered construction, for example with two different portions each as a cylinder of uniform radius. The first portion of the second weight is constructed as a fatter cylinder than the second portion of the second weight. This allows the thinner second portion to pass through a gap in the brake disk to which the disk lock is being secured and into a hole present in the first weight. This creates a close fit between the two weights and increases the security of the disk lock when the lock is in place.

Ideally, the body of the disk lock comprises a solid body formed from a plastics material. The body of the disk lock is preferably formed as a solid body of lightweight plastics material that surrounds the entirety of the two weights when the disk lock is in use. This protects the two weights and the locking mechanism, when the disk lock is secured in place on a brake disk of a motorcycle. The solid body envelopes all of the other components in the disk lock and protects them from external interference while providing the external appearance of a robust and bulky body. The strength of the disk lock is provided by the two weights, while the protection from interference is provided by the solid body of the lock.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a disk lock, Figure 2 is a vertical section through the disk lock, Figure 3 is an exploded view of the disk lock, and Figure 4 is a side view of the disk lock in use.

Figure 1 shows a disk lock 10. The disk lock 10 comprises a body 12 and various internal components, which are discussed in more detail below. The body 12 has a slot 14 and a hole 16 formed therein, with the axis of the hole 16 lying perpendicular to the plane of the slot 14. The body 12 is wedge shaped and the hole 16 is located at the narrow end of the wedge. The slot 14 to is also wedge shaped and is open at the narrow end of the wedge. The slot 14 is designed to be located onto the brake disk of a motorcycle wheel, when in use. In use, the disk lock 10 functions as a security device, protecting the motorcycle from theft.

At the top of the hole 16 can be seen the top of a weight 20 which forms part of the security mechanism of the disk lock 10. Essentially, the disk lock 10 is provided with two weights, one of which is provided with a portion that is arranged to pass through the slot 14 and through the brake disk of the motorcycle wheel. A locking mechanism is provided that can lock the two weights together, in order to secure the disk lock 10 in place on the brake disk.

The two weights provide a heavyweight defence and they cannot be accessed directly, since the body 12 of the lock 10 is surrounding the weight.

Figure 2 shows the disk lock 10, shown as a vertical section through the disk lock 10. The disk lock 10 comprises a body 12 having a slot 14 and a hole 16 formed therein, the axis of the hole 16 lying perpendicular to the plane of the slot 14. A first weight 18 is located in the hole 16 on one side of the slot 14 and a second weight 20 is located in the hole 16 and comprises a first portion 20a located on the opposite side of the slot 14 to the first weight 18 and a second portion 20b passing through the slot 14 and the first weight 18, and a locking mechanism 22 arranged to lock the second weight 20 to the first weight 18. The first portion 20a of the second weight 20 is thicker than the second portion 20b of the second weight 20.The two weights 18 and 20 both have a round external circumference.

The locking mechanism 22 comprises a key operated lock 24 and an internal shaft 26 that runs inside the second weight 20. When the disk lock 10 is located onto a brake disk of a motorcycle's wheel, then the locking mechanism 22 is used to secure the disk lock 10 in position. The action of turning the key on the key operated lock 24 causes the shaft 26 to rotate and this causes ball bearings (not shown) to be pushed outwards into cavities 28 that are present within the first weight 18, thereby locking the first weight 18 to the second weight 20. These two weights 18 and 20 cannot now be separated and the lock 10 is secured in position.

Although the disk lock 10 shown in this Figure has a locking mechanism that locks only the first weight 18 to the second weight 20, the locking mechanism 22 could be adapted so that there are additional locking features. The locking mechanism 22 could be configured so that when the shaft 26 is rotated under the action of the key in the key operated lock 24 additional ball bearings are pushed outwards and engage with the body 12 of the lock 10, thereby providing additional security within the lock 10.

Figure 3 shows the disk lock 10 in an exploded form, illustrating the components that make up the lock 10. The main components of the lock 10 are the body 12, the first weight 18 and the second weight 20. Additional components shown in this Figure are ball bearings 30, washers 32 and a spring 34. The ball bearings 30 form part of the locking mechanism 22 and are discussed above. The ball bearings 30 are pushed outwards by the rotation of the shaft 26 under the action of the key in the locking mechanism 22 and serve to lock together the first and second weights 18 and 20.

The washers 32 are simply present to ensure a good connection between the various components, principally the two weights 18 and 20 when the disk lock 10 is being secured to the brake disk of a motorcycle wheel. The spring 34 is present to create an opposite force to the two weights 18 and 20. The spring 34 is under compression when the disk lock 10 is in place and the two weights 18 and 20 are locked together. When the user wishes to disengage the disk lock 10 from the brake disk to which it is attached, the user turns the key in the key operated lock 24 and this releases the connection between the two weights 18 and 20. The spring 34 pushes apart the two weights 18 and 20.

Figure 4 shows the lock 10 secured onto a disk 50 of a motorcycle wheel 52. In order to secure the disk lock 10 to the brake disk 50 of a motorcycle wheel 52 the user receives the disk lock 10 and locates the slot 14 of the body 12 of the disk lock 10 on the brake disk 50. The user then inserts the second weight 20 into the hole 16 of the body 12 of the disk lock 10 and through the brake disk 50, and engages the locking mechanism 22 of the disk lock 10 to lock the second weight 20 to the first weight 18. In this way the disk io lock 10 is secured onto the brake disc 50 of a motorcycle wheel 52.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A disk lock (10) comprising: * a body (12) having a slot (14) and a hole (16) formed therein, the axis of the hole (16) lying perpendicular to the plane of the slot (14), * a first weight (18) located in the hole (16) on one side of the slot (14), * a second weight (20) located in the hole (16) and comprising a first portion (20a) located on the opposite side of the slot (14) to the first weight (18) and a second portion (20b) passing through the slot (14) and the first weight (18), and * a locking mechanism (22) arranged to lock the second weight (20) to the first weight (18).
2. A disk lock according to claim 1, wherein the body (12) is wedge shaped and the hole (16) is located at the narrow end of the wedge.
3. A disk lock according to claim 2, wherein the slot (14) is wedge 20 shaped and is open at the narrow end of the wedge.
4. A disk lock according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first portion (20a) of the second weight (20) is thicker than the second portion (20b) of the second weight (20).
5. A disk lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism (22) is also arranged to lock the second weight (20) to the body (12).
6. A disk lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the two weights (18, 20) have a round external circumference.
7. A disk lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (12) comprises a solid body formed from a plastics material.
8. A method of securing a disk lock (10) to a brake disk (50) of a motorcycle wheel (52) comprising: * receiving a disk lock (10) according to any preceding claim, * locating the slot (14) of the body (12) of the disk lock (10) on the brake disk (50), * inserting the second weight (20) into the hole (16) of the body (12) of the disk lock (10) and through the brake disk (50), and * engaging the locking mechanism (22) of the disk lock (10) to lock the second weight (20) to the first weight (18).