WO1983004009A1

WO1983004009A1 - Bicycle lock

Info

Publication number: WO1983004009A1
Application number: PCT/DK1983/000049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ole Jo^/rgen SKYTTE (deceased)
Original assignee: BASTA LA^oSEFABRIK A/S; Anker-Moeller, Knud (Legal Representative Of Skytt
Priority date: 1982-05-06
Filing date: 1983-04-27
Publication date: 1983-11-24
Also published as: SE459914B; NO840007L; DE3344169C2; GB8334222D0; GB2129747B; GB2129747A; SE8400016L; DE3344169T1; JPS59500921A; EP0108110A1; NO160765B; NO160765C; NL8320150A; FI840028A; SE8400016D0; NL191937C; NL191937B; FI840028A0

Abstract

With a bicycle lock of the type having a blocking bar or a locking arm (10) mounted in a holding part (17) which is secured to the one leg (1) of the fork, the arm (10) can swing from a locked position, in which the arm is secured in an engagement part (18) secured to the opposite leg (2) of the fork, to a disengaged position. The locking arm (10) is mounted on a bush (8) which can turn and thus swing the locking arm for engagement with the engagement part (18)'s locking breech (16), wherein the latch (12) can engage with a groove (11) in the outer part of the locking arm (10). The lock can consist of a pair of metal canisters welded to each its fork leg and forming a housing for the remaining parts of the lock, and in the housing there can be provided a notch in which a ring of impenetrable material can be bedded. The actual locking arm (10) is free to rotate around its axis (20) in any position, which means that the arm can be turned without causing any damage, neither to the holding parts nor the locking parts. Moreover, since the lockingbreech (16) is completely enclosed within the locking block (13) in the engagement part (18), it is not possible to force or knock the locking arm out of the engagement part, in that the arm can be releaed only by an axial movement of the locking arm, and after the latch (12) has been turned out by means of the key (15). A possible housing will protect the internal parts of the lock, which can thus be made of moulding materials if desired, in that neither will the housing be capable of being sawn through, for example with a hack-saw.

Description

BICYCLE LOCK

The invention relates to a locking device for the locking of a spoked wheel which is mounted in the fork of a bicycle, moped or the like, comprising a holding part secured to the one leg of the fork and in which a blocking element in the form of a locking arm is mounted on a spindle and is pivotable between a releasing position parallel with the leg of said fork and a blocking position. In said blocking posi¬ tion the locking arm points towards an engaging ele¬ ment for the locking arm, in that the engaging ele¬ ment is mounted on the other leg of the fork. The locking arm can be introduced into an opening or re- cess and secured by means of a locking element which co-operates with the locking arm and blocks said arm by means of a key which can be inserted in the lock¬ ing element.

Hitherto-known locks of this kind have not provided the full extent of necessary security, the reason be¬ ing that it has been possible to break open these locks with commonly-known hand tools.

First and foremost, this is because the locking bar is not secured in the engagement part to a sufficien¬ tly secure degree. In most cases the bar swings up¬ wards from beneath into a recess in the engagement part, in which it is then secured by means of a lock. Thus the lock must both bear and secure the locking bar, which in practice gives rise to difficulties, since in many cases a strong, downwardly directed - blow on the bar will ruin the lock and release the bar.

"BURE

O.Y.PI Other locks can be ruined by forcibly turning the locking bar around its longitudinal axis with the help of a pair of pliers, whereby the lock cylinder or the latch breaks and releases the bar.. -

Such locks are often constructed as closed units made of metal, and since to a wide extent they demand man¬ ual assembly, they ar .difficult to produce. More¬ over, for reasons of the relatively great precision required to give the lock sufficient reliability and strength, the individual parts are expensive to man¬ ufacture. Furthermore, the mounting of the parts on the frame parts of the bicycle is troublesome, the reason being that it is difficult to weld or solder the parts to the frame without risk of damage to the inner parts of the lock.

It is the object of the invention to increase the security of such locks while at the same, time improv- ing their function by making them easier and quicker to operate.

This is achieved according to the invention when the locking arm is secured to the holding part in a bush which is pivotable around an axis lying essentially at right angles to the centre axis of the locking arm, and when said locking arm can turn freely around its centre axis and be displaced axially within said bush. It is hereby possible to construct a lock which provides great security against being forced open, in that the effect of the rotatable locking arm is that no breakage can occur in the holding part in the event of the arm being turned around its longitudin¬ al axis. Moreover, the pivotable mounting provides the possibility of semi-automatic operation, in that a torsion spring can be provided which, when the locking arm is unlocked from the engagement part, turns the locking arm free of the wheel and into a vertical position where it can be secured. Thus the troublesome manual operation of the locking arm, which moreover often requires the use of both hands, is avoided.

As presented in claim 2, by providing the engagement part with a locking breech in the form of an opening into which the locking arm can be inserted axially, by virtue of its capability of being displaced in an axial direction, the risk of any breaking open by pressing down the locking arm is eliminated. The en¬ gagement part can, in fact, be made considerably more solid by completely surrounding the outer part of the locking arm, which is thus prevented from being knocked downwards.^'

As presented in claim 3, it is expedient to provide the engagement part with a lock in which the latch can be displaced radially into and out of the lock¬ ing breech, and at the same time provide the locking arm with a circumferential groove which co-operates with said latch, in that the locking arm can then turn freely around its longitudinal axis while in its locked position, without the locking means being ruined as a result of such turning.

As presented in claim 4, it is expedient for both the holding part and the engagement part to consist of a metal housing formed with a bottom and a shroud, said housing being capable of being secured to the fork legs by welding or the like, and in which housings the holder with the locking pin and the locking mech¬ anism respectively can be inserted.

There is hereby achieved a considerable simplifica¬ tion in the manufacture of the lock, in that the lock can now be produced primarily of two main parts, namely a canister-shaped metal housing which can be hardened and which can easily be secured to the frame in a commonly-known manner by welding or the like. Moreover, it becomes possible to produce both the holder for the locking pin and the locking mechanism in units capable of being inserted in the canister -shaped metal housings and thereafter secured in the housings.

The manufacture is thus simplified, in that the hous¬ ings both secure and protect the vulnerable inner parts, hereby enabling said parts to be of more siια=- pie manufacture and of less robust but on the other hand cheaper materials such as synthetic materials. Furthermore, the repair work is considerably simpli¬ fied, the reason being that the holding part as well as the locking part are easy to separate, and the parts are repaired or replaced.

A lock in accordance with the invention can be char¬ acteristic in that the insert, as presented in claim 5, can be provided with an arrangement of impenetra- ble material, at least in the area around the opening for the locking pin in the metal housing. The result achieved is that it is no longer possible to break through the area at the opening, and thus the lock cannot be opened in this manner.

-BTJREA

OMPI As presented in claim 6, the security arrangement of impenetrable material can consist of a ring of hard¬ ened material, preferably a split ring, which is dis¬ posed in a notch in the insert.

The security arrangement thus achieved is simple from the point of view of production technique, in that one can use materials which are much harder but not so easily workable, produced quite independently from the rest of the lock and thereafter inserted in the lock during its assembly, namely by merely placing the split ring down in a notch in the insert.

If, as presented in claim 7, a stop arrangement is disposed in the notch, the ring is prevented from turning in the notch and thus undesirably coming to turn so that the place at which the ring is split comes to lie opposite the opening in the housing.

To make locks of the type presented less expensive, the insert in the metal housing is often made of synthetic material, for example by form moulding. In such cases, the security arrangement can be placed in the insert at the same time as the moulding is carried out, so that it lies completely moulded into the insert as presented in claim 8.

One thus not only achieves security in a cheap manner and without any further extra work other than the placing of the security arrangement in the mould, but also the possibility of using different forms of im¬ penetrable materials, for example materials which are * difficult to work. Since the impenetrable material used is moulded in, it does not need to have a pre-

U REAT

OMPI

, Λ. cise form.

By providing the housings with recesses as presented in claim 9, the lock can be made very robust, the reason being that the front edge of the housing's shroud extends continuously around, thus providing good strength and holding together of the parts.

By securing the holder and the lock to the bottom of the housing, as presented in claim 10, the parts can be held.together very easily while preventing separ¬ ation in a commonly-known manner.

By securing the parts in the metal housing by bending the housing's outer edge portion, as presented in claim 11, a simple and solid securing is achieved.

Finally, as presented in claim 12, it is expedient to produce the holder and the lock in a plastic body, as this makes production of the parts considerably cheaper.

The invention is described more closely in the fol¬ lowing with reference to the drawing, where

fig. 1 shows a horizontal section through an em¬ bodiment of the lock according to the in¬ vention with a holding part and an enga¬ gement part with locking arm in the lock- ed position,

fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the lock ac¬ cording to the invention in its locked position and secured to the fork legs.

OMPI fig. 3 shows a housing with a lock insert for a bicycle lock in separated condition,

fig. 4 shows a section through the insert from fig. 3, seen in the direction of the arrows along the line IV-IV in fig. 3, and

fig. 5 shows another section through the insert from fig. 3, seen in the direction of the arrows along the line V-V in fig. 4.

As will be seen in fig. 1, the holding part 17 and the engagement part 18 are secured to the legs 1 and 2 of the bicycle fork by welding. However, both the holding part and the engagement part can be secured to the legs by means of clips or the like.

The holding part 17 comprises a shroud 3 which sur- rounds and secures the remaining parts to the leg of the fork. The part includes a housing 7 in which there is arranged a rotatable bearing for a spindle 5, said spindle being capable of turning around an axis which lies at right angles to the leg 1. The spindle 5 is secured to the one end of a torsion spring 6, the other end of which is secured in the housing 7. Also secured to the spindle 5 is a bush 8 in which a locking arm 10 can be secured. Either alone or^' while secured to the bush, the locking arm can be displaced in a direction which is at right an¬ gles to the axis of rotation of the spindle 5.

To the locking arm there is secured a further spring 9 which holds the locking arm pressed into the hold- ing part, i.e. towards the left of the drawing, so that it disengages from the engagement part i8 when the lock is operated. This construction can be formed in several different ways. The locking arm 10, for example, can be screwed into the bush 8, which can then be displaced axially in relation to the housing 7. The essential feature is that the locking arm can be displaced axially in relation to the housing in such a manner that it can slide outwards against the spring power, i.e. towards the right of the drawing, when the lock is to be operated.

In the embodiment shown, the locking arm 10 is in the form of a rotatable element which is made of hardened steel and which at its free end is provided with a chamfer and, at a distance from said chamfer, a groove 11.

The engagement part 18 is similarly provided with a shroud 4 which secures the locking bloc .13 to the leg 2 of the fork. In the locking block there is mounted a lock cylinder 14 with an associated key 15 for the operation of a locking latch 12 which can move radially into and out of a locking breech 16. This locking breech runs in extension of the locking arm 10, when this is in its locked position, and has a diameter which is a little larger than that of the locking arm, so that the arm can be guided safely in the breech 16.

When the lock is to be used, the locking arm 11 and the bush 8 are swung against the torsion spring 6 up to the horizontal position,_Nafter which the end of the bush 8 is pressed against the action of the

"BURE

OMPI spring 9, thus leading the locking arm 10 into the locking breech 16 during this axial displacement. Since the end of the arm is chamfered, the latch 12 is pressed back in the locking block and, hen slides down into the groove 11 when the arm has been fully introduced, thus locking the arm 10. What is thus in¬ volved is a snap-lock action of the locking arm, in that the locking is effected with or without the key in the lock

When the lock is to be opened, the key is used to withdraw the latch 12 out of the groove 11. The spring 9 will draw the locking arm out of the breech, and the torsion spring 6 will turn the arm down to the vertical position, where by means of a suitable slideway the locking arm is secured. In this way the opening function is made completely automatic.

In all positions, the locking arm is free to rotate around its centre axis 20, and therefore cannot be influenced by attemps to break the lock by the turn¬ ing of the arm. All the parts of the lock are thus protected against breakage, and since the engagement part is furthermore comprised of a closed locking block, the locking arm cannot be knocked out of the block. This lock is thus superior to all others with regards to both security and function.

Fig.- 2 shows a second embodiment of the lock in ac- cordance^"with the invention.

The bicycle lock is mounted on the front or the back fork. The wheel, which is not shown in the drawing, is placed between the legs 1 and 2 of the fork.

OMPI The lock itself is mounted outside the spokes of the wheel, so that in the locked position shown, the locking arm 30 extends between the spokes of the wheel, thus blocking against turning of the wheel.

The lock comprises a holding part 17, which is se¬ cured to the left leg 1 of the fork, and an engage¬ ment part 18 which is secured to the right leg 2 of the fork.

The locking arm 30 is pivotably mounted on the hold¬ ing part 17. It can swing from the shown locked pos¬ ition to a disengaged position which is represented by the stippled lines parallel to the leg of the fork. This swinging movement of approx. 90 is made possible by a bearing built into the holder 31, which can also house a spring which moves the locking arm from the one position to the other.

In order to permit this movement, the surrounding metal housing 32 is provided with recesses 35, thus enabling the locking arm to swing the approximately but preferably not more than the 90 .

The housing 32 consists of a bottom and a shroud. The bottom lies up against the frame parts 1 and 2 to which it is secured by welding or other known meth— . ods. Together, the bottom and the shroud form a shell in which the actual holder 31 can be inserted and se- cured, for example by means of a screw (not shown) through the bottom and into the holder 31. This screw must be protected against removal in a commonly-known - manner, for example by means of a one-way slot or the like.

"BU E

O PI In a corresponding manner, the engagement part 18 is formed by means of a metal housing 21 which, as shown in fig. 2, is welded to the fork leg 2. This housing is similarly provided with a recess 29 which allows passage of the locking arm 30 when this is to be en¬ gaged and locked.

The actual lock insert 23.can be inserted into the housing and is provided with commonly-known means for securing the locking arm 30 in the engagement part 18.

By thus being able to mount the parts on the frame while at the same time using a metal housing which can withstand the loads normally arising, one can use cheaper and more easily workable parts for the manu¬ facture of the holder 31 and the lock insert 23 re¬ spectively. These parts can preferably be surrounded by synthetic material which fulfils the demands, and since the parts are protected by the metal housing, the lock is resistant against attack.

Instead of or together with the attachment of the parts to the bottom of the metal housing, one can bend the outer edge portion completely or partly so that the holder 31 and the lock insert cannot be taken out of the metal housing 21, 32.

• In fig. 3 is shown the leg 2 of a bicycle fork, for example the back fork. On the leg of the fork is se- cured a metal housing 21 in which a housing 22 for a locking arm is shown schematically. Shown separately from the metal housing is an insert 23, also with a - bore 24 for a locking arm shown schematically. In the insert 23 is shown a lock cylinder 25. The metal hou- sing with the insert is shown schematically in fig. 3 because it can constitute either a holding part for the pivotable mounting of a_.locking arm for a bicycle lock, or a similar lock or an engagement part in which the opposite and free end of a locking arm can be engaged and locked. If fig. 3 is to show the en¬ gagement part, it is provided with a lock cylinder 25 as shown in the drawing.

Fig. 4 shows a section through the insert seen in the direction IV-IV in fig. 3 or in fig. 5, and fig. 5 shows another section seen in the direction V-V in fig. 4.

In all the figures the same parts are given the same reference numbers.

The insert 23, which can be made of metal but is often made of synthetic material, for example form moulded, is inserted in the housing in a commonly known manner after the housing has been secured to the leg 2 of the fork, for example by welding. The insert 23 can be secured by a screw (not shown) through the bottom and into the insert 23. The screw must be protected in a commonly-known manner against being unscrewed, for example by means of a one-way slot or the like. One can also use a bending of the outer edge zone, so that the insert 23 cannot be taken out.

However, although the housing 21 itself is made of hardened metal, with cutting tools such as a hack-saw or a file it has shown itself to be possible to break through the housing 21*s shroud between the opening

O PI and the hole 22 at the locking arm. In fig. 3 this place is marked by the arrow 33.

However, to prevent any breakthrough of the area 33, the area is provided with an impenetrable material, in that a ring 26 of very.hard .material is used in the insert. The ring 26 is placed in a notch 27 in the insert 23. The notch 27 can have a stop arrange¬ ment 28 if one uses a split ring 26. The stop arran- gement prevents the ring from turning, so that the split in the ring does not lie in an^'undesirable pos¬ ition precisely in the area 33 -which must be protec¬ ted. The stop arrangement can consist, for example, of a pin which is inserted in the notch, or can form an integral part of the insert 23's material, for example by form moulding.

The ring 26 can be made of piano wire hardened so much that it is of glass hardness, or the material can comprise a metal carbide or a similar hard mater¬ ial which cannot be broken through with a saw or a file or similar cutting tools.

It will be obvious for those familiar with the art that it can be sufficient to use a part of a ring or a piece of impenetrable material of any other kind, merely providing that it is large enough to cover the area 33 when the lock is in its locked position.

When the insert 23 is form moulded of synthetic mat¬ erial, the impenetrable material can be placed di¬ rectly in the mould so that it is enclosed within the insert 23, and in such a manner that it sits in the correct position opposite the area 33.

'BUREA The insert 23 can also be form moulded so that it is provided with a notch 27, as shown in fig 5, after which the split ring 26 of impenetrable material is placed in the notch before the insert is inserted in the metal housing.

O PI

Claims

C L A I S

1. Locking device for the locking of a spoked wheel mounted in the fork of a bicycle, moped or the like, comprising a holding part (17) secured to the one leg (1) of the fork, and in which a blocking element in the form of a locking arm (10) is mounted on a spin¬ dle (5) and is pivotable between a disengaged posi¬ tion parallel to said fork leg (1) and a blocking position in which the locking arm (10) points to¬ wards an engagement element (18) for the locking arm (10) , in that said engagement element (18) is mounted on the other leg (2) of the fork and the locking arm (10) can be introduced into an opening or recess and secured by means of a locking element (10, 14) which co-operates with the locking arm (10) which is block¬ ed by means of a key (15) , in that said key (15) can be inserted in the locking element, c h a r a c t ¬ e r i z d in that the locking arm (10) is secured to the holding part (17) in a bush (8) which is piv¬ otable around an axis which lies substantially at right angles to the centre axis (20) of the locking arm (10) , and in that the locking arm (10) is free to rotate around its centre axis (20) and can be dis- placed axially withing said bush (8) .

2. Locking device according to claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the engagement part (18) is provided with a locking breech (16) in the form of a blind hole in which the outer part of the locking arm (10) can be inserted, and in which it is locked with the help of commonly-known means for the secur- - ing of the locking arm (10) .

3. Locking device according to claims 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a circumferential groove (11) is provided in the locking arm (10) at a distance from its end, and in that in the locking breech (16) there is mounted a locking latch (12) which can be displaced radially and can go down into the groove (11) and secure the locking arm (10) in the locking breech (16) .