Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62H—CYCLE STANDS; SUPPORTS OR HOLDERS FOR PARKING OR STORING CYCLES; APPLIANCES PREVENTING OR INDICATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OR THEFT OF CYCLES; LOCKS INTEGRAL WITH CYCLES; DEVICES FOR LEARNING TO RIDE CYCLES
  • B62H5/00—Appliances preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of cycles; Locks integral with cycles
  • B62H5/14—Appliances preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of cycles; Locks integral with cycles preventing wheel rotation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62H—CYCLE STANDS; SUPPORTS OR HOLDERS FOR PARKING OR STORING CYCLES; APPLIANCES PREVENTING OR INDICATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OR THEFT OF CYCLES; LOCKS INTEGRAL WITH CYCLES; DEVICES FOR LEARNING TO RIDE CYCLES
  • B62H5/00—Appliances preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of cycles; Locks integral with cycles
  • B62H5/003—Appliances preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of cycles; Locks integral with cycles using chains or cables
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B67/00—Padlocks; Details thereof
  • E05B67/38—Auxiliary or protective devices

Definitions

• This invention relates to "the field of locks. More particularly, this invention relates to U-lock ⁇ which are commonly used for bicycles.
• U-locks are commonly used for locking a bicycle to prevent theft of the bicycle. Ordinarily, a rider locks the bicycle frame and at least one wheel to a post. Often, an experienced rider will remove the front wheel of the bicycle in order to lock it as well.
• a U-lock locks principally includes a bar which has been formed into a U-shape and a removable header.
• the header is rectangular bar and includes a passive hole and -a locking hole ⁇ each -space about one inch from opposite ends of the header.
• a rotating lock is fitted in the end of the header.
• the U-bar is formed of metal bar stock formed into a U-shape whose arms are in the range of four to six inches apart.
• a first arm includes a 90° bend which is positioned about one inch from its end forming a short bar section.
• the second arm is formed to properly mate with the rotating lock of the header.
• the short bar section is placed into the passive hole and the U-bar and the header are rotated about the 90° bend relative to one another so that the entire short bar section is pushed inside the header and the second end of the U- bar enters the locking hole.
• the rotating lock is then activated by a key to prevent the second end of the lock from being removed from the header thereby securely holding the lock closed.
• a jack is designed to lift the weight of an automobile, it is sufficiently strong to cause the U-lock to fail simply by opening the lock.
• a practiced thief can pre-size the jack to the proper spacing of a U-lock so that the jack need only be expanded and complete such a theft in approximately twenty seconds.
• a security spacer 24 is used with a U-lock 16 to provide additional security.
• the U-lock includes a U-shaped bar and a header.
• the arms of the U-lock are sufficiently longer than the object being locked that a gap between the object and header is wide enough to allow a thief to insert a jack between the arms and break the lock.
• the security spacer substantially fills the gap to prevent the insertion of a jack and is held in place by the header.
• the security spacer preferably includes two oval cylinders connected at opposite ends of a metal bar.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in use with a U-lock and a portion of a bicycle.
• Figure 2 is an top section view of a single spacer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention used with a U-lock to lock a bicycle to a post.
• Figure 3 is an top section view of two spacers according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention used in with a U-lock to lock a bicycle to a post.
• Figure 4 ' is a partial exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with a U-lock.
• Figure 5 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a front view of a first alternate embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a front view of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 8 is a front view of a third alternate embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 9 is a front view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 10 is a front view of a fifth alternate embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in use with a U-lock and a portion of a bicycle.
• a portion of bicycle frame 10 and a wheel 12 are locked to a pole 14 by a U-lock 16.
• the pole is any convenient object to which a bicycle can be locked, such as a parking meter, bicycle rack,
• the U-lock includes a U-bar 18 and a header 20.
• Figure 2 is an top section view across the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
• the distance 22 between the bicycle frame 10 and the header 20 of the U-lock 16 is sufficiently large to allow a jack to be inserted therein.
• the jack can be opened between the arms of the U-bar to cause the U-lock to fail by breaking so that the bicycle can be stolen.
• a security spacer 24 is placed over the two arms of the U-bar which fills up the gap 22 preventing a thief from inserting a jack between the arms.
• the header is then attached and locked to the U-bar which secures the security spacer 24 in place.
• the thief is prevented from causing the U-lock to fail.
• the entire gap need not, and usually is not, completely filled. Generally, a gap-of• up to 3/4 of an inch will suffice to prevent a theft.
• the gap is substantially filled.
• the size of the gap can vary.
• Figure 3 shows the same U-lock 16 as in Figure 2 where the bicycle 10A is narrower and the pole 14A has a smaller diameter than the bicycle 10 and the pole 14 shown in Figure 2.
• the gap 22A is wider than the gap 22 of Figure 2.
• the gap 22A may be sufficiently wide that the rider can use two security spacers 24 as shown in Figure 3.
• security spacers 24 can also be manufactured having varying widths.
• FIGs 2 and 3 show security spacers 24 mounted immediately adjacent the header 20 of the U-lock 16. This is not necessary. It is possible to use the security spacer 24 between the end of the lock and
• FIG 4 shows a perspective view of the preferred security spacer 24.
• the security spacer 24 includes two apertured ends, each one to accept an arm of a U-lock 16.
• the apertured ends are formed through an oval cylinder 26.
• a blocking bar 28 joins the two oval cylinders 26 spanning the gap between the apertured ends. The blocking bar 28 prevents a jack from being inserted between the arms of the U- lock 16 where the security spacer 24 is located.
• the oval shape of the cylinder 26 is preferred because it uses a minimum of material while still being easy to insert the arm of the U-lock 16 that has the short bar section through the apertured end. Naturally, other cylindrical shapes will also perform the same function. While installing the security spacer 24 onto the U-lock 16, the rider may be required to first insert the short bar section through one apertured end of the security spacer 24 and rotating the U-lock and security spacer relative to each other about the 90° bend and then insert the second arm of the U-lock through the other apertured end.
• the security spacer 24 is preferably formed of steel. Similar lengths of steel tubing that has been deformed into an oval shape and steel plate are welded together to form the structure shown in Figure 4.
• the assembled security spacer 24 is then dipped into a bath of paint, liquid vinyl or other polymer to provide an aesthetic coating.
• the coating also makes the security spacer 24 less likely to scratch the painted surfaces of the rider's bicycle.
• Another approach to assembling production quantities of the security spacer 24 is to weld considerable lengths of steel tubing to plate. This
• U-lock 16 is enhanced by using security spacers 24.
• applying a jack to a U-lock 16 between two security spacers 24 has caused the jack to fail rather than the U-lock.
• a theft may be prevented in a situation where a security spacer 24 is used but a sufficiently large gap remains to allow the insertion of a jack.
• Figure 5 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• the invention can be practiced using alternate shapes for the apertured ends.
• Figure 6 shows a first alternate embodiment of the invention having a circular apertured end.
• Figure 7 shows a second alternate embodiment of the invention having a flattened circular apertured end.
• Figure 8 shows a third alternate embodiment of the invention having a rectangular apertured end.
• Figure 9 shows a fourth alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the spacer is a loop. This embodiment uses more material than those previously discussed. Further, this embodiment of the invention cannot be used between the end of the U-lock and the pole because it will merely slide off the end of the U-lock.
• Figure 10 shows a fifth alternate of the invention. A bar has two apertured ends formed through it, such as by drilling, to accept the arms of the U-lock. This embodiment uses more material than the embodiments previously described but is potentially the strongest.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
• Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)
• Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25039611

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (11)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1992
  • 1992-09-03 AU AU25584/92A patent/AU2558492A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-09-03 JP JP5505304A patent/JPH07501114A/ja active Pending
  • 1992-09-03 WO PCT/US1992/007292 patent/WO1993005258A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-09-03 EP EP92919426A patent/EP0620889A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-09-03 BR BR9206459A patent/BR9206459A/pt active Search and Examination
  • 1992-09-03 CA CA002116961A patent/CA2116961A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 1994
  • 1994-03-04 FI FI941040A patent/FI941040A0/fi not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (11)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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