IE20080323A1

IE20080323A1 - A wheel clamp

Info

Publication number: IE20080323A1
Application number: IE20080323A
Authority: IE
Inventors: James Derek Walton; Alan Albert Thoni
Original assignee: James Derek Walton; Alan Albert Thoni
Priority date: 2007-04-25
Filing date: 2008-04-25
Publication date: 2009-06-24
Also published as: GB2448823A; GB0807518D0

Abstract

A wheel clamp (1) for clamping a wheel (2) of a motorbike comprises a base member (5) with a pair of retaining members (6,7) pivotally coupled to the base member (5) and defining a wheel receiving area (10) for receiving the wheel (2). The retaining members (6,7) are pivotal from a release state for accommodating a wheel into the wheel receiving area (10) and a captive state for retaining a wheel captive in the wheel receiving are (10). A wheel engaging member (27) pivotally mounted on the base (5) is engageable with the wheel (2) as the wheel is being urged into the wheel receiving area (10). The wheel engaging member(27) is engageable with a pair of link bars (29) which extend from the retaining members (6,7) for urging the retaining members (6,7) from the release state to the captive state as the wheel (2) is urged into the wheel receiving area (10). A latch (39) extending from the retaining member (6) is engageable with a receiver (40) on the retaining member (7) when the retaining members (6,7) are in the captive state. A lock (43) in a housing (42) of the receiver (40) comprises a locking bar (56) which is engageable with a bore (57) in the latch (39) for retaining the latch (39) in the receiver (40), and in turn for retaining members (6,7) in the captive

Description

The present invention relates to a wheel clamp, and in particular, though not limited to a wheel clamp for clamping a wheel of a motorbike for preventing theft of the motorbike.

Theft of motorcycles, or motorbikes as they are commonly referred to, is quite common. In order to combat the theft of motorbikes, many locking devices and arrangements are provided. Such locking devices comprise a chain with a padlock, which typically, is passed through either one or both of the front and rear wheels of the motorbike to form a loop, and the two free ends of the looped chain are then locked together by a suitable padlock. An alternative to this type of locking device comprises an elongated hardened flexible cable which terminates at its respective opposite ends in lock engaging eyes. The cable is passed through one or both of the wheels of the motorbike in similar fashion as a chain, and the two free ends of the looped cable are then secured together by a padlock.

Another locking arrangements for locking a motorbike include a ground engaging bracket which is securely anchored in the ground, and is provided for receiving a chain or a hardened flexible cable, so that the chain or cable may be passed through an eye in the bracket and in turn through one or both of the wheels of the motorbike to form a loop. The free ends of the chain or cable are then secured together by a padlock.

While such locking devices and arrangements to some extent provide security against theft, they suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, the use of a padlock and chain or a padlock and hardened flexible cable secured to the wheel or wheels only suffers from the disadvantage that the bike with the chain or cable padlocked thereto can by physically lifted from the ground and transported to a location where a thief can either pick the lock or cut the chain or cable with specialised cutting equipment While the provision of ground engaging brackets securely anchored in the ground to some extent overcomes this problem, the padlock, being entirely exposed, can be forced into an open state, thus facilitating disengagement of the chain or cable from the padlock. A further disadvantage of such locking arrangements is that they are cumbersome and require storage space in the motorbike when not in use.

Accordingly, there is a need for a locking arrangement for a motorbike, and indeed, for other bicycles and vehicles, which addresses at least some of the problems of prior art locking arrangements.

The present invention is directed towards providing a wheel clamp.

According to the invention there is provided a wheel clamp comprising a ground engaging base member, a pair of retaining members coupled to the base member and moveable between a release state spaced apart from each other and defining with the base member a wheel receiving area, and a captive state for retaining a wheel captive in the wheel receiving area, an actuating means co-operable with the retaining members, and being responsive to a wheel in the wheel receiving area for urging the retaining members from the release state to the captive state, and a locking means for locking the retaining members in the captive state.

In one embodiment of the invention the actuating means comprises a wheel engaging member moveable in response to a wheel being urged into the wheel receiving area for in turn urging the retaining members from the release state to the captive state. Preferably, the wheel engaging member is spring urged for urging the retaining members from the captive state to the release state.

In one embodiment of the invention the wheel engaging member is pivotally coupled to the base member, and extends from the base member at an angle thereto, so that as a wheel is urged into the wheel receiving area, the wheel engaging member is depressed downwardly and pivots in a downwardly direction towards the base member. Advantageously, a linkage mechanism couples the retaining members to the wheel engaging member.

In another embodiment of the invention each retaining member is pivotally coupled to the base member, and preferably, the retaining members are pivotally coupled to the base member at spaced apart locations on respective opposite sides of the wheel receiving area.

Preferably, the retaining members co-operate with each other for in turn co-operating with the rim of a wheel for retaining the wheel captive in the wheel receiving area.

In another embodiment of the invention each retaining member is of inverted L-shaped cross-section, and sidewardly extending limbs of the L-shaped section of the respective retaining members extend towards each other spaced apart from the base member for co-operating with and retaining the rim of the wheel captive in the wheel receiving area.

In another embodiment of the invention a latch extends from one of the retaining members for engaging a receiver in the other retaining member, and preferably, the locking means is located in the receiver for co-operating with the latch for retaining the latch in the receiver.

In one embodiment of the invention the locking means is removeable from the receiver, and ideally, the locking means comprises a lock of the type comprising a U-shaped housing having a locking bar extending between the free ends of the U-shaped housing, and preferably, the locking bar is engageable with a bore in the latch for retaining the latch in the receiver. Ideally, the receiver is adapted for removably receiving the lock.

Ideally, the wheel clamp is adapted for retaining a wheel of a motorbike captive, and preferably, the base member is adapted for securing to the ground.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a wheel clamp according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the wheel clamp of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the wheel clamp of Fig. 1 illustrated in a different state, Fig. 4 is another perspective view of the wheel clamp of Fig. 1 illustrated in the state of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a front end elevational view of the wheel clamp of Fig. 1 illustrated in the state of Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is a front end elevational view of the wheel clamp of Fig. 1 illustrated in the state of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of the wheel clamp of Fig. 1 on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional end elevational view of the wheel clamp of Fig. 1 on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view similar to Fig. 7 of the wheel clamp of Fig. 1 illustrating the wheel clamp in use.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a wheel clamp according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, for clamping a wheel 2 of a motorbike, a portion of the wheel 2 only is illustrated in Fig. 9, for in turn securing the motorbike against theft. The wheel clamp 1 comprises a ground engaging base member 5 of steel plate material for securing to the ground as will be described below. A pair of retaining members 6 and 7 of inverted L-shaped cross-section also of steel plate material are pivotally coupled to the base member 5 at spaced apart locations on respective opposite sides 9 of the base member 5 by primary pivot mountings 8. The retaining members 6 and 7 are pivotal between a release state illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 defining a wheel receiving area 10 for receiving the wheel 2 of the motorbike and a captive state illustrated in Figs. 1,2,6,7,8 and 9 for retaining the wheel 2 captive in the wheel receiving area 10. Each retaining member 6 and 7 comprises a side member 11 and an inwardly extending top member 12, which extends towards the top member 12 of the other retaining member 6 or 7, so that when the retaining members 6 and 7 are in the captive state, the top members 12 extend parallel to the base member 5 and are spaced apart above the base member 5 for co-operating with each other and a wheel rim 14 ofthe wheel 2 for retaining the wheel 2 captive in the wheel receiving area 10, see Fig. 9.

The primary pivot mountings 8 for pivotally coupling the retaining members 6 and 7 to the base member 5 each comprise a plurality of first pivot mounting bearings 15 which are welded to the base member 5 and a plurality of second pivot mounting bearings 16 welded to the side members 11 of the retaining members 6 and 7. Corresponding primary pivot shafts 18 extend through bores 19 in the corresponding first and second pivot mounting bearings 15 and 16 for pivotally coupling the retaining members 6 and 7 to the base member 5.

The retaining members 6 and 7 extend from a front end 20 to a rear end 21 of the base member 5, and end plates 23 are welded to the side and top members 11 and 12 of the retaining members 6 and 7 adjacent the rear end 21 thereof. The front end 20 of the base member 5 and retaining members 6 and 7 is adapted for accommodating the wheel 2 ofthe motorbike into the wheel receiving area 10, and portions of the top members 12 of the retaining members 6 and 7 are removed at 25 for accommodating portions of the wheel rim 14 extending upwardly from the wheel receiving area 10. Portions 26 of the top members 12 of the retaining members 6 and 7 extend above and partly across the rim 14 ofthe wheel 2 when the retaining members 6 and 7 are in the captive state for securely retaining the wheel 2 captive in the wheel clamp 1.

An actuating means for urging the retaining members 6 and 7 from the release state to the captive state comprises a wheel engaging member 27 which is pivotally coupled to the base member 5 by a secondary pivot mounting 28, and inclines upwardly from the base member 5 in a general upwardly rearwardly direction towards the rear end 21 for engaging the wheel 2 of the motorbike as the wheel is being urged into the wheel receiving area 10. A linkage mechanism comprising a pair of link bars 29 extending from the end plates 23 of the respective retaining members 6 and 7 are engageable with the wheel engaging member 27, so that as a wheel is being urged into the wheel receiving area 10, the wheel engaging member 27 is depressed downwardly about the secondary pivot mounting 28 in the direction of the arrow A towards the base member 5 by the action of the wheel on the wheel engaging member 27. The wheel engaging member 27 acts on the link bars 29 for io in turn pivoting the retaining members 6 and 7 in the direction of the arrows B from the release state to the captive state. A U-shaped mounting bracket 30 welded to the wheel engaging member 27 defines with the wheel engaging member 27 a slot 31 within which the link bars 29 are retained, and are laterally slideable as the retaining members 6 and 7 pivot between the release state and the captive state. A compression spring 32 acting between the base member 5 and the U-shaped bracket 30 urges the wheel engaging member 27 upwardly in the direction of the arrow C from the base member 5 about the secondary pivot mounting 28 as a wheel 2 is being urged out of the wheel receiving area 10 for in turn pivoting the retaining members 6 and 7 in the directions of the arrow D for releasing the wheel rim 14.

The secondary pivot mounting 28 comprises a pair of first pivot mounting bracket 34 welded to the base member 5 and a second pivot mounting bracket 35 welded to the wheel engaging member 27. A secondary pivot shaft 37 engages bores 38 in the first and second pivot mounting brackets 34 and 35 for accommodating pivoting of the wheel engaging member 27 relative to the base member 5.

A latch 39 extends from the end plate 23 of the retaining member 6, and is engageable in a receiver 40 provided on the end plate 23 of the retaining member 7. The receiver 40 in this embodiment of the invention is formed in a lock accommodating housing 42 for accommodating a locking means, in this embodiment of the invention a lock 43 which is removably accommodated in the housing 42. The housing 42 is formed by the end plate 23 of the retaining member 7 and a spaced apart plate member 44, which extends from the side member 11 and the top member 12 of the retaining member 7. A receiver plate 46 extends between the plate member 44 and the end plate 23, and a receiver opening 47 in the receiver plate 46 receives the latch 39. A lower plate 48 extending between the plate member 44 and the end plate 23 and between the side member 11 and the receiver plate 46 closes the bottom of the housing 42 and defines with the plate member 44, the end plate 23, the receiver plate 46 and a portion of the side member 11 a hollow interior region 50 into which the latch 39 extends when the retaining members 6 and 7 are in the captive state. An open mouth 52 to the hollow interior region 50 accommodates the lock 43 into and out of the hollow interior region 50. io The lock 43 is of U-shaped construction having a main body 54 and a pair of spaced apart side limbs 55 extending from the main body 54, see Fig. 8. A locking bar 56 extends between the side limbs 55, and is slideable between an open state for accommodating the latch 39 between the side limbs 55, and a locked state illustrated in Fig. 8 with the locking bar 56 engaged in a bore 57 extending through the latch 39 for retaining the latch 39 in the receiver 40. A barrel lock 59 in the lock 43 secures the locking bar 56 in the locked state.

A pair of spaced apart guide members 58 welded to the base member 5 extend from the front end 20 of the base member 5 towards the rear end 21 for guiding a wheel 2 into the wheel receiving area 10.

Bores 60 extending through the base member 5 accommodate masonry bolts or other suitable fixing elements through the base member 5 for securing the base member 5 to the ground.

In use, with the base member 5 secured to the ground, the wheel clamp 1 is ready for use. With the retaining members 6 and 7 in the release state, and the lock 43 with the locking bar 56 in the open state in the hollow interior region 50 of the housing 42, the wheel, typically, the front wheel 2 of a motorbike is wheeled into the wheel receiving area 10 between the guide members 58 from the front end 20 of the base member 5. When the wheel 2 engages the wheel engaging member 27, further movement of the wheel 2 into the wheel receiving area 10 depresses the wheel engaging member 27 downwardly in the direction of the arrow A towards the *? Ο base member 5 about the secondary pivot mounting 28, which in turn urges the link bars 29 downwardly for pivoting the retaining members 6 and 7 in the direction of the arrows B from the release state to the captive state. As the retaining members 6 and 7 are pivoting into the captive state, the latch 39 is urged through the receiver opening 47 into the receiver 40. When the retaining members 6 and 7 are fully in the captive state with the latch 39 located between the side limbs 55 of the lock 43, the locking bar 56 of the lock 43 is urged downwardly into the locked state for engaging the bore 57 in the latch 39, and for securing the latch 39 in the receiver 40. The barrel lock 59 is then operated by a key for securing the locking bar 56 in the locked state. Thus, the wheel 2 is securely retained captive in the wheel clamp 1 by the portions 26 of the top members 12 of the retaining members 6 and 7. The portions of the top members 12 are removed at 25 accommodate the wheel rim 14 of the wheel 2 extending upwardly from the wheel retaining area 10.

When it is desired to remove the wheel 2 from the wheel clamp 1, the barrel lock 59 of the lock 43 is operated by a suitable key for unlocking the locking bar 56, which is then retracted to the open state to disengage the bore 57 in the latch 39, thereby permitting the latch to be disengaged from the receiver 40. With the locking bar 56 disengaged from the latch 39 the wheel 2 is urged outwardly of the wheel receiving area 10 towards the front end 20 of the base member 5. As the wheel 2 is being urged from the wheel receiving area 10, the wheel engaging member 27 is disengaged by the wheel, and is urged upwardly about the secondary pivot mounting 28 in the direction of the arrow C by the compression spring 32. The upward movement of the wheel engaging member 27 causes the U-shaped bracket 30 to act on the link bars 29 for urging the link bars 29 upwardly, and in turn pivoting the retaining members 6 and 7 in the direction of the arrow D from the captive state to the release state. The wheel 2 can then be wheeled from the wheel receiving area 10, thereby releasing the motorbike from the wheel clamp 1.

The advantages of the invention are many. Firstly, the invention provides a particularly secure wheel clamp which provides for secure locking of a motorbike or other bicycle or vehicle against theft. Additionally, the wheel clamp, since it is securely mounted and anchored in the ground, and furthermore, is self-contained, η ι & V there is no need for a motorcyclist, cyclist or driver to carry cumbersome chains or cables as in the case of prior art locking arrangements. However, if desired, the wheel clamp could be provided without the lock 43, and a motorcyclist, cyclist or driver would merely provide his or her own lock, which would be relatively small, and could be readily easily carried on the motorbike, bicycle or other vehicle, or indeed, on the person of the motorcyclist, cyclist, driver or the like.

While the retaining members 6 and 7 have been described as being of particular shape and construction, the retaining members may be of any other suitable shape io and construction, and needless to say, any other suitable linkage mechanism may be used for coupling the wheel engaging member 27 to the retaining members 6 and 7. While it is desirable to have the wheel engaging member 27 spring urged away from the base member 5, this is not essential. The retaining members 6 and 7 could be urged manually from the captive to the release state on disengagement of the locking bar 56 from the latch 39.

Claims

1. A wheel clamp comprising a ground engaging base member, a pair of retaining members coupled to the base member and moveable between a release state spaced apart from each other and defining with the base member a wheel 5 receiving area, and a captive state for retaining a wheel captive in the wheel receiving area, an actuating means co-operable with the retaining members, and being responsive to a wheel in the wheel receiving area for urging the retaining members from the release state to the captive state, and a locking means for locking the retaining members in the captive state. io

2. A wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 1 in which the actuating means comprises a wheel engaging member moveable in response to a wheel being urged into the wheel receiving area for in turn urging the retaining members from the release state to the captive state.

3. A wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 2 in which the wheel engaging member is spring urged for urging the retaining members from the captive state to the release state. 20

4. A wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 in which the wheel engaging member is pivotally coupled to the base member, and extends from the base member at an angle thereto, so that as a wheel is urged into the wheel receiving area, the wheel engaging member is depressed downwardly and pivots in a downwardly direction towards the base member.

5. A wheel clamp as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 in which a linkage mechanism couples the retaining members to the wheel engaging member.

6. A wheel clamp as claimed in any preceding claim in which each retaining 30 member is pivotally coupled to the base member.

7. A wheel clamp as claimed in any preceding claim in which the retaining members are pivotally coupled to the base member at spaced apart locations on respective opposite sides of the wheel receiving area.

8. A wheel clamp as claimed in any preceding claim in which the retaining members co-operate with each other for in turn co-operating with the rim of a wheel for retaining the wheel captive in the wheel receiving area.

9. A wheel clamp as claimed in any preceding claim in which each retaining member is of inverted L-shaped cross-section, and sidewardly extending limbs ofthe L-shaped section of the respective retaining members extend towards each other spaced apart from the base member for co-operating with and retaining the rim of the wheel captive in the wheel receiving area.

10. A wheel clamp as claimed in any preceding claim in which a latch extends from one ofthe retaining members for engaging a receiver in the other retaining member.

11. A wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 10 in which the locking means is located in the receiver for co-operating with the latch for retaining the latch in the receiver.

12. A wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 10 or 11 in which the locking means is removeable from the receiver.

13. A wheel clamp as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 12 in which the locking means comprises a lock ofthe type comprising a U-shaped housing having a locking bar extending between the free ends ofthe U-shaped housing.

14. A wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 13 in which the locking bar is engageable with a bore in the latch for retaining the latch in the receiver.

15. A wheel damp as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 14 in which the receiver is adapted for removably receiving the lock.

16. A wheel clamp as claimed in any preceding claim in which the wheel clamp is adapted for retaining a wheel of a motorbike captive.

17. A wheel clamp as claimed in any preceding claim in which the base member is adapted for securing to the ground.

18. A wheel clamp substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.