IE55929B1

IE55929B1 - Cycle security device

Info

Publication number: IE55929B1
Application number: IE302784A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Raymond Colin Burridge
Priority date: 1983-11-25
Filing date: 1984-11-26
Publication date: 1991-02-27
Also published as: GB2150898A; GB8429829D0; GB2150898B; GB8331619D0; IE843027L

Abstract

A non-portable cycle security device is provided which comprises at least one restraining member which is capable of passing over or through at least a part of the frame of a cycle and is lockable in a retraining position thereby preventing removal of the cycle frame from the device. The device includes a locking mechanism which may be coin-freed and the device may be adapted for attachment to an area of ground or to a fixed vertical support.

Description

This invention relates to a cycle security device and, in particular, to a non-portable cycle security device which may be located, for example, in public places such as town centres, shopping centres, car parks etc. As used herein, the term cycle includes, for example, bicycles, tricycles, mopeds, scooters and any vehicles which have a suitably shaped frame over which or through which a restraining member may be passed.

The most expensive and important part of a cycle is the frame and it is therefore desirable that any security device for a cycle be capable of securing the frame of a cycle without damaging the frame in any way. Moreover, cycles vary greatly in size and shape and it is therefore important that the security device be capable of securing any size or model of cycle.

According to the present invention there is provided a security device for cycles, as hereinafter defined, comprising at least' two upstanding members, which are capable of being attached to an area of ground and which define a station for a cycle, and a pivoted lockable restraining member, which is pivotally mounted on one of said upstanding members and is capable of extending across said station passing over or through at least a part of the frame of a cycle to engage the other said upstanding member in a locking relationship, and in which at least said other upstanding member supports a locking mechanism for receiving a lockable restraining member.

It Is preferred that the locking mechanism may be coin freed.

The upstanding members may consist of vertical posts set in an area of ground or may consist of sloping tubes or struts of a triangular framework which rests upon the ground.

The restraining member may be rigid, as in the case of a bar, or it may be flexible, as in the case of a chain.

A method of securing a cycle in a security device according to the invention is also provided which comprises the steps of passing the restraining member over or through at least a part of the frame of a cycle and locking the restraining member in the restraining position.

A method of securing a cycle in a security device according to the invention is also provided -which comprises the steps of placing a cycle in the station defined by the two upstanding members, passing the restraining member pivotally mounted on one of the upstanding members over or through at least a part of the frame of the cycle and engaging the restraining member in locking relationship with the other upstanding member.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which:Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cycle security device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of an alternative enhodiment according to the present invention; and Figure 3 is a front elevation of another alternative embodiment according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a cycle security rack 1 comprising a plurality of stations 2 for receiving a cycle. For convenience, only two stations 2 are shown in Figure 1. Each station 2 is defined by a series of metal tubes 3a, 3b, 3c arranged to form a triangular prism which rests with one rectangular side defined by tubes 3c, flat against the ground. The rack 1 is secured to the ground hy means of U-bolts 4 which grip tubes 3c at one end and have their other ends secured in the ground. A box 5 is provided at the apex of each pair of tubes 3b which contains a locking mechanism 6 and a hinge mechanism 7. One end of tube 3a is attached to a hinge mechanism 7 in a box 5 on one side of a station 2 so that it can pivot in a vertical plane when its other end is released from a locking mechanism 6 situated in another box 5 on the opposite side of the station 2.

Locking mechanism 6 is operated by a key 8 and may be coin freed in which case a coin must be inserted into a slot 9 in the box 5 to free the locking mechanism 6.

In operation, key 8 is turned which releases tube 3a at its unhinged end from locking mechanism 6 thus allowing it to be pivoted upwards about hinge mechanism 7 situated on the opposite side of station 2 to the locking mechanism 6 in question. A cycle is then positioned in station 2 and tube 3a then lowered over the V1' formed by the tube supporting the seat and the sloping down tube of a ladies cycle or lowered so that it passes through the triangle formed by the seat support tube, down tube and crossbar of a gentleman’s cycle. The unhinged end of tube 3a may then be inserted into box 5 and locked in place by locking mechanism 6 thus locking the cycle in the security rack 1. Key 8 may then be removed. When it is desired to remove the cycle from security rack 1, key 8 is inserted in box 5 and turned to release locking mechanism 6. The tube 3a may then be lifted out of box 5 and moved so that it no longer passes over or through the frame of the cycle. The cycle may then be removed from the rack and tube 3a replaced in locking mechanism 6.

A groove 10 may also be provided in the ground at the front and/or rear of each station 2 in which the wheels of a cycle may be placed to hold it in a vertical position independent of the security rack 1.

Figure 2 shows a cycle security device 11 which comprises a plurality of stations 12 for receiving a cycle. For convenience, only two stations 12 are shown in Figure 2. Each station 12 is defined by a pair of vertical posts, 13,14. Posts 13 are provided at their upper ends with two pairs of hinge brackets 15 located at opposite sides of posts 13 to each other so that one pair of hinge brackets 15 projects into each station 12. Two locking bars 16 are provided, each of which is attached at one of its ends to a pair of hinge brackets 15 so that it can pivot in a horizontal plane about a vertical pin 17 which passes through the hinge brackets 15v Each pair of posts 14 Is surmounted by a box 18 which contains two locking mechanisms 19, each Locking mechanism 19 being associated with one adjacent station 12 only and being located above the post 14 which defines one side of the station 12 in question. Each locking mechanism 19 can receive the unhinged end of the locking bar 16 associated with the station 2 in question and each locking mechanism 19 is operated by a key 20. Each locking mechanism 19 may also be coin freed requiring insertion of a coin in coin slot 21 to release the mechanism.

As in the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, to operate security device 11, key 20 is turned to release locking bar 16 from locking mechanism 19. Locking bar 16 can then be pivoted horizontally about pivot pin 17 to allow access to station 12. A cycle is then positioned in station 12 and locking bar 16 pivoted so that It passes over the ”V” frame of a ladies cycle or through the triangular part of the frame of a gentleman’s cycle as described in relation to Figure 1. Locking bar 16 is then inserted into locking mechanism 19 and key 20 turned to lock bar 16 in position. Key 20 may then be removed. To release the cycle, the above procedure must be repeated and the cycle removed once locking bar 16 has been pivoted so that it no longer passes over or through any part of the cycle frame.

It should be appreciated that, as an alternative to the above construction, the pair of posts 14 may be replaced by a single post and box 18 may house a locking mechanism 19, and a pair of hinge brackets 15 and a pivot pin 17, one box being positioned on each vertical post so that all posts are identical and include both locking and pivoting means.

Figure 3 shows a security device 22 similar to security device 11 illustrated in Figure 2 except that locking bar 16 is replaced by a chain 23 which, in turn, necessitates the provision of a different locking mechanism to that illustrated in Figure 2.

Chain 23 is, attached at one of its ends to vertical post by means of a bracket 26 or other suitable fastening means. A box 27 is provided on a vertical post which defines the other side of the cycle station 28.

Box 27 is provided with a locking mechanism 29 which includes an upturned hook 30 which projects from box 27 into station 28 and is operated by key 31. Once again, locking mechanism 29 may be coin freed requiring insertion of a coin into coin slot 32 to release the mechanism.

In this embodiment, once the chain 23 has been passed over or through the frame of a cycle positioned in station 28, the end link of chain 23 is passed over hook 30. Then, as key 31 is turned, the hook 30 and the end of the chain 23 attached to it, is retracted into box 27 thus locking chain 23 in position.

It should be noted that the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1,2 and 3 and described above may all be used in conjunction with existing cycle stands, such as, cycle racks, wheel grooves or wall-or post-mounted MV prongs in which the wheel of a cycle is held. Moreover, since there is no limitation on the direction in which a cycle must be placed in the above devices i.e. cycles may be put into a device either front wheel or rear wheel first, more cycles may be accommodated than in some types of rack. This ls because the space required to accomodate a series of cycles is determined by the width of the handlebars of the cycles. Thus, sincea cycle may be positioned in a device either front wheel or rear wheel first, by alternating the mode of entry, the handlebars of the cycles may be staggered thus saving space.

It will of course be understood that the present Invention has been described above purely by way of example and modifications of detail can be made within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A security device for cycles, as hereinbefore defined, comprising at least two upstanding members, which are capable of being attached to an area of ground ς and which define a station for a cycle, and a pivoted lockable restraining member, which is pivotally mounted on one of said upstanding members and is capable of extending across said station passing over or through at least a part of the frame of a cycle to engage the jo other said upstanding member in a locking relationship, and in which at least said other upstanding member supports a locking mechanism for receiving a lockable restraining member.

2. A security device according to claim 1 in 15 which said locking mechanism is coin-freed.

3. A security device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which said upstanding members comprise vertical posts set in an area of ground.

4. A security device according to claim 1 or 20 claim 2 in which said upstanding members comprise sloping tubes of a triangular framework.

5. A security device according to any preceding claim in which said restraining member is rigid.

6. A security device according to any preceding 25 claim in which said restraining member is a bar.

7. A security device according to any one of claims 1-4 in which said restraining member is flexible.

8. A security device according to any one of claims 1 - 4 or 7 in which said restraining member 30 is a chain.

9. A security device according to any preceding claim when attached to an area of ground.

10. A method of securing a cycle in a security device according to any preceding claim which comprises 35 the steps of passing said restraining member over or through at least a part of the frame of a cycle and locking said restraining member in said restraining position. δ

11. A method of securing a cycle in a security device according to any of claims 1-9 which comprises the steps of placing a cycle in said station defined by said two upstanding members, passing said restraining 5 member mounted on one of said upstanding members over or through at least a part of the frame of said cycle and engaging said restraining member in locking relationship with the other said upstanding member.

12. A non-portable security device for cycles 30 substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A non-portable security device for cycles substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

14. 15 14. A non-portable security device for cycles substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. 15. A method of securing a cycle in a non-portable security device substantially as hereinbefore described 20 and with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

15. 16. A method of securing a cycle in a non-portable security device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying 25 drawings.

16.

17. A method of securing a cycle in a non-portable security device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.