WO2012107339A1

WO2012107339A1 - Bicycle anti-theft device.

Info

Publication number: WO2012107339A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/051714
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raniero Giudici
Original assignee: Trasatti, Claudio
Priority date: 2011-02-07
Filing date: 2012-02-01
Publication date: 2012-08-16
Also published as: ITMC20110010A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bicycle anti-theft device that uses a pedal as prohibition means for the free rotation of the front wheel of a bicycle, subject to removal of said pedal from the crank and insertion in a special padlock mounted in correspondence of one of the arms of the fork of said bicycle.

Description

Bicycle anti-theft device

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to an anti-theft device for installation on bicycles, also as accessory of existing bicycles.

As it is known, bicycle thefts, in particular of expensive models, are rather common.

For this reason, anti-theft devices have been available for long, being of two main types: the first one consists in anti-theft devices incorporated on bicycles (of the type of traditional locks), which are not very effective, being easily neutralized by thieves.

The second type consists in "external" devices (such as chains, or padlocks), which are certainly more effective, although they impair the easiness of use of the entire bicycle, being particularly uncomfortable and cumbersome to carry by the user.

In particular, reference is made to users going for long races on racing bicycles, or trips on mountain-bikes, when they tend to minimize the weight and volume of "external" objects.

Starting from a similar evaluation of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to realize a device able to guarantee excellent anti-theft protection for the bicycle, certainly higher than traditional locks, without imposing additional weights or volumes to the bicycle.

More precisely, the idea of the present invention is to provide a bicycle with a pedal that can be easily removed from the crank and use the same pedal, after disassembly, as prohibition means for the free rotation of the front or rear wheel of the bicycle.

In such a situation, in fact, the pedal can be inserted horizontally between the spokes of the front wheel and locked in such an "impedimental" position in correspondence of the arms of the fork where the wheel is fixed. Naturally, as soon as it is no longer necessary to protect the bicycle from theft, the pedal can be easily removed from the front fork, extracted from the spokes of the wheel and mounted again on the crank, in such manner that the normal condition of use of the entire bicycle is restored perfectly and rapidly.

Following to such a brief description, it must be noted that the anti- theft device of the invention uses the cooperation of some components that can be easily installed on the bicycle.

In particular, reference is made to:

- a bush with lock to be screwed into the traditional threaded hole provided at the end of one of the cranks of the bicycle

- a removable pedal that, although with traditional configuration, is characterized by the special configuration given to the end of the pin adapted to realize coupling with crank; in fact, because of such a configuration, the pin can be exactly inserted and locked inside the bush thanks to the retention action exerted by the lock

- a special padlock to be fixed to one of the arms of the front fork, it being provided, in particular, that said padlock allows for the exact insertion of the stem of the removable pedal, which is firmly locked in such a position by the retention action exerted by the lock.

Moreover, it must be considered that the anti-theft action of the device of the invention is twofold: in fact, potential thieves will be prevented from stealing the bicycle not only because the removable pedal is positioned in such manner to prevent the rotation of the front wheel, but also because one of the cranks of the bicycle is without pedal.

On the other hand, while the usefulness of the lock provided on said padlock fixed on the front fork of the bicycle can be easily appreciated (in view of its capability to prevent the free extraction of said removable pedal from the spokes of the wheel), it is likewise important to note the usefulness of the lock provided on the bush adapted to be mounted in correspondence of one of the cranks of the bicycle. Because of this second lock, in fact, only the owner of the bicycle will be able to disassemble the pedal and advantageously use it as an anti-theft device.

Without such a lock, the risk for the owner of the bicycle is that a malicious person can freely remove the removable pedal from the crank, just to play a nasty trick or joke, thus making the entire bicycle unusable.

For explanatory reasons, the description of the invention continues with reference to attached drawings, which only have an illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of said removable pedal of the anti-theft device of the invention, normally fixed to the crank;

- Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 , except for it shows the pedal extracted from the crank, together with the bush provided to allow for mutual coupling of said two components;

- Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pedal extracted from the crank, still containing said bush;

- Fig. 4 is an axonometric view of the special padlock adapted to be mounted on the front of one arm of the fork of the bicycle;

- Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing said removable pedal firmly inserted in the padlock of Fig. 4;

- Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 5, except for it shows said pedal extracted from the padlock;

- Fig. 7 is an axonometric view of a preferred assembly of said padlock in correspondence of the arm of the fork of the bicycle, with removable pedal not yet inserted in the padlock;

- Fig. 8 is the same as Fig. 7, except for it shows said removable pedal already inserted in the padlock;

Referring to the enclosed figures, the first component of the new bicycle anti-theft device consists in a bush (1 ) provided with an externally threaded tubular cylindrical stem (10) ending at the back end with a collar (1 1 ) with basically circular section, in the center of which the opening of the hole (12) that crosses the bush (1 ) is situated. Especially referring to Figs. 1 , 2 and 3, the mounting of said bush (1 ) provides for screwing its threaded tubular stem into the corresponding threaded hole (F) that is normally provided at the free end of any crank (PV) for bicycles.

The screwing of the bush (1 ) inside the hole (F) ends when said collar

(1 1 ) is stopped against the external side of the crank (PV).

Moreover, it must be noted that said collar (1 1 ) is provided with a radial appendage (13) crossed by an axial hole where the striker (14) of a lock slides alternately, being normally subject to the return action of a spring (not shown in the enclosed figures) and provided with higher length than the appendage (13) adapted to guide and contain its alternate travels.

In particular, as shown in Fig. 3, the action exerted by said spring ensures that the striker (14) tends to spontaneously remain completely inside said sliding appendage (13), in such manner that its flute-beak tip (14a) partially occupies the section of the hole (12) crossing said bush (1 ).

For the purpose of extracting such a tip (14a) from the hole (12), in order to completely free the section of the latter, it is sufficient to make the striker (14) slide backwards, as expressly shown in Fig. 2.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the enclosed figures, such an activity can be performed by exerting a simple traction on the knob (14b) mounted on the striker (14) on the opposite side of the tip (14a) and maintained outside the appendage (13) till the striker (14) reaches the end of its forward travel, as expressly shown in Fig. 3.

According to a preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown in the enclosed figures), the backward sliding of the striker (14) is obtained with an ordinary key, adapted to be inserted in a keyhole provided on the bush (1 ) and, more precisely, in correspondence of the same appendage (13) inside which said striker (14) slides.

The second component of the device of the invention consists in a pedal (2) having a traditional general configuration, but characterized in that its central pin (20) is provided, downstream a connection flange (21 ), with a thinned cylindrical end (22) with a perimeter groove (23) with sloping sides in the proximity of said connection flange (21 ).

In particular, said thinned cylindrical end (22) of a similar pedal (2) has length and cross-section basically identical to the hole (12) of said bush (1 ).

Within the thinned cylindrical end (22) it is also provided that said groove (23) is situated, with respect to said connection flange (21 ), at a distance basically corresponding to the distance between the opening of the through hole (12) of the bush (1 ), starting from said collar (1 1 ), and the point where said striker (14) actuates.

The third component of the device of the present invention consists in a special parallelepiped padlock (3) adapted to be fixed "edgewise" on the front of one of the arms (B) of the fork (FR) of a bicycle.

Said padlock (3) is transversally crossed by a circular hole with horizontal axis (30), having length and section basically corresponding to said thinned end (22) of the pedal (2).

Said horizontal hole (30) is joined with a hole with vertical axis ending in correspondence of the upper side (3a) of said parallelepiped padlock (3).

In fact, said hole with vertical axis contains a striker (31 ) provided with flute-beak tip, together with actuation lock (32), the keyhole (33) of which for the corresponding key (C) is situated on said upper side (3a) of the padlock

(3).

When said lock (32) is brought in closing position - as shown in Fig. 5

- the tip of the striker (31 ) is partially inserted into said hole (30) that crosses the padlock (3) horizontally.

Instead, when the lock (32) is brought in opening position - as shown in Fig. 6 - the tip of the striker (31 ) completely frees the passage section of the hole (30) of the padlock (3).

It being understood that said padlock (3) can be directly welded or screwed on the front of the corresponding arm (B) of the fork, Figs. 7 and 8 show a preferred assembly solution that has been devised in order to make installation extremely easy and quick, while complying with the structure of said fork. According to such a solution, the padlock (3) is mounted on the front of an arch (4) basically shaped as a horseshoe, which can be screwed on top of the fork of the bicycle, preferably using the same screw that is traditionally used to fix the front brake, in the center of the cross-piece (T) that connects the arms of the fork.

In particular, the aforementioned figures show that the padlock (3) is fixed edgewise on the front of one of the vertical arms of said arch (4).

After describing the structure of the aforementioned components of the anti-theft device of the invention, the operation of the same device is illustrated hereinafter.

In the normal operating condition of the bicycle - as shown in Fig. 1 - said thinned end (22) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2) is inserted into the hole (12) of the bush (1 ) screwed in the hole (F) of the crank (PV).

Such an insertion, which is considered to be completed when said flange (21 ) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2) is stopped against the collar (1 1 ) of the bush (1 ), can be obtained on condition that said tip (14a) of the striker (14) of the bush (1 ) has completely freed, further to the backward movement of the entire striker (14), the section of the hole (12) that crosses the bush (1 ).

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the enclosed figures, without lock for said striker (14), the backward movement of said striker (14) is "automatically" obtained during the insertion of the end (22) of the pedal (2) in the through hole (12) of the bush (1 ).

In particular, such an effect is obtained because of the gradual interference exerted by the thinned end (22) of the pin of the pedal (2) against said flute-beak tip (14b) of said striker (14).

Naturally, such an interference must be sufficiently energetic to overcome the resistance of said spring applied on the striker (14).

When the thinned end (22) goes beyond the striker (14) during its penetration into the hole (12) of the bush (1 ), the return spring instantaneously imposes a downward travel to the striker (14), thus favoring the exact insertion of its flute-beak tip (14b) into the groove with sloping sides (23) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2). Evidently, such an exact coupling prevents the accidental sliding of the pin (20) of the pedal (2) with respect to the bush (1 ) and consequently of the crank (PV).

In view of the above, the bicycle can be normally used by the user. When the user intends to park the bicycle and activate the anti-theft device of the invention, the user must impose a backward travel to said striker (14) of the bush (1 ), exerting a traditional backward traction on said knob (14b).

Such an operation, in fact, allows for extracting the tip (14a) of the striker (14) from the section of the through hole (12) of the bush (1 ) and, simultaneously, from the groove (23) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2).

So, being no longer subject to a retention means, the pedal (2) can be easily removed from the bush (1 ) and consequently uncoupled from the crank (PV).

Naturally, when the striker (14) of the bush (1 ) is provided with lock, it is easily understood that its alternate travels - in preparation of said coupling- uncoupling between the pin (20) of the pedal (2) and the hole (12) of the bush (1 ) - are controlled by the lock.

In any case, after completing the removal of the pedal (2) from the crank (PV), the pedal (2) is firmly fixed to the padlock (3) mounted edgewise in correspondence of one of the arms (B) of the fork, after passing through the spokes of the front wheel of the bicycle.

In order to do that, the thinned end (22) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2) must be exactly inserted into the horizontal hole (30) crossing the padlock (3).

However, such a deep insertion can be performed only on condition that the passage section of the hole (30) of the padlock (3) is free; in such perspective, the key (C) must be used to open the lock (32) and cause the upward travel of the striker (31 ), as shown in Fig. 6.

In view of the above, the tip of the striker (31 ) is no longer able to oppose the deep insertion of the end (22) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2). Such an operation can be considered as completed when the flange (21 ) of the pin (20) is stopped against the side of the padlock (3), as shown in Fig. 5.

Now, the user must use the key (C) to close the lock (32) of the padlock (3), thus favoring a new downward travel of the striker (31 ).

So, the tip of the striker (31 ) is exactly inserted into the perimeter groove (23) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2), preventing a new extraction of said pin (20) from the padlock (3) until the owner of the bicycle uses the key (C) to open the lock (32).

Naturally, when this happens, the pedal (2) can be extracted from the spokes of the front wheel and positioned in its "natural operating seat", i.e. in correspondence of the crank (PV) thanks to the usual cooperation of the bush (1 ).

Claims

1 ) Bicycle anti-theft device, characterized in that it comprises the following parts:

- a bush (1 ) adapted to be screwed inside the hole (F) provided at the end of the crank (PV) of a bicycle and therefore provided with an externally threaded tubular cylindrical stem (10) ending with a collar (1 1 ) with basically circular section, in the center of which the mouth of the hole (12) that crosses said cylindrical stem (10) is situated; it being provided that said collar (1 1 ) is provided with a radial appendix (13) adapted to house and guide the alternate travels of a striker (14) able, in closing position, to maintain its flute-beak tip (14a) in such a way to partially occupy the section of said through hole (12) of the bush (1 );

- a pedal for bicycles (2), the central pin (20) of which ends, downstream a connection flange (21 ), with a thinned cylindrical end (22) adapted to be exactly inserted into said through hole (12) of the bush (1 ); it being provided that said thinned cylindrical end (22) of the pin (20) is provided with engagement means (23) to favor the insertion of said tip (14a) of the striker (14), when the latter is brought in closing position;

- a parallelepiped padlock (3) adapted to be fixed in vertical position on the front of one of the arms (B) of the fork (FR) of a bicycle and also provided with a through hole with horizontal axis (30) adapted to exactly receive said thinned cylindrical end (22) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2), in such a condition to allow the striker (31 ) provided in the padlock (3) to insert its flute-beak tip into said engagement means (23) provided in correspondence of the thinned cylindrical end (22) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2).

2) Device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said striker (14) of the bush (1 ) is actuated by means of a lock.

3) Device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said striker (14) of the bush (1 ) is subject to the action of a return spring that constantly tends to maintain it in closing position and is also provided, in correspondence of the end opposite the tip (14a), with a knob (14b) used to exert a suitable traction to make it slide towards the opening position.

4) Device as claimed in one or more of the above claims, characterized in that the striker (31 ) of the padlock (3) is housed, together with the corresponding lock (32), inside a hole with vertical axis that ends inside said hole with horizontal axis (30) of the padlock (3).

5) Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said lock (32) of the padlock (3) is actuated with a key (C) that is engaged into a keyhole (33) situated in correspondence of one of the horizontal sides (3a) of the padlock (3).

6) Device as claimed in one or more of the above claims, characterized in that said engagement means (23) provided along the thinned cylindrical end (22) of the pin (20) of the pedal (2) consist in a perimeter groove (23) provided with sloping sides.

7) Device as claimed in one or more of the above claims, characterized in that said padlock (3) is mounted on the front of one of the vertical branches of an arch (4), basically shaped as a horseshoe, adapted to be fixed to the top of the fork (FR) of a bicycle, basically at the height of the cross-piece (T) that connects the arms of the fork (FR).