WO2021095024A1

WO2021095024A1 - Parking apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2021095024A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/060772
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernard HANNING; Xavier TORT I SALA
Original assignee: Hanning Bernard; Tort I Sala Xavier
Priority date: 2019-11-14
Filing date: 2020-11-16
Publication date: 2021-05-20
Also published as: GB201916606D0

Abstract

A docking unit (1) for a two-wheeled vehicle, comprises a base member (3), a top member (9) and two spaced apart columns (5, 7) extending therebetween. The arrangement provides a space between the columns (5, 7) for accommodating a wheel of a two- wheeled vehicle. The unit further comprises a shackle (13), such as a D-shackle, mounted on said top member (9) and rotatable relative thereto. The shackle (13) is openable to permit entry of a two- wheeled vehicle into the shackle (12) and closable to prevent removal of the two-wheeled vehicle from the docking unit (1). A method of docking a two-wheeled vehicle is also disclosed.

Description

Parking Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to apparatus and methods for parking vehicles, especially two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles and scooters. Reference will be made hereinafter mainly to bicycles but it should be understood that the invention may have application for other two- wheeled vehicles.

Background to the Invention The advent of public bicycle hire as a means of personal transport in urban environments is creating unacceptable public street clutter, particularly where bicycle docking stations are not provided. Bicycles may be left anywhere creating hazards to pedestrians and other street users. The competing requirements for urban space, where public planning authorities are being asked to approve parking spaces, have to take into account the requirements for safe, risk assessed locations, both for personal private bikes and public bike rental schemes. More efficient use of public street space would be made if the current private approved bike parking locations are capable of being used for both public bike hire and personal bike parking within the same public parking location.

Statements of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a docking unit for a two-wheeled vehicle, the unit comprising a base member, a top member and two spaced apart columns extending therebetween, wherein a space is defined between said columns for accommodating a wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle, the unit further comprising a shackle, such as a D-shackle, mounted on said top member and rotatable relative thereto, said shackle being openable to permit entry of said two-wheeled vehicle into said shackle and closable to prevent removal of said two-wheeled vehicle from the docking unit.

Preferably, said columns extend from said base by an amount which is approximately that of the height of the handlebar headset of an average bicycle.

Preferably, the shackle is mounted on the top member so as to permit limited movement relative thereto in a plane passing through both said columns.

Preferably, the shackle includes a U-shaped member and the top member includes a holder defining a slot within which the bight of the U-shaped member is located, said slot extending in a plane parallel to a plane passing through said columns.

More preferably, the shackle includes a locking module, said locking module being attached to one arm of the U-shaped element by a joint permitting relative pivotal movement therebetween and said locking element being detachably attached to the other arm of the U- shaped element. The joint may be, for instance, a hinge joint, permitting movement of the locking element in the plane of the U-shaped member. An alternative type of joint is a universal joint, permitting movement also out of this plane.

Most preferably, the other arm of the shackle is lockably attachable to said locking module. It is preferred that said locking module and said other arm have mating engagement elements which when engaged cause the locking module and the other arm to be locked together. Preferably, the unit includes means for unlocking said locking module and said other arm, said unlocking means being actuatable by OTA communication. More preferably, the OTA communication includes a smartphone. Preferably, the shackle is rotatable from one side of the two columns to the other side. The rotation is preferably possible over at least 270 to 300 degrees from the vertical on one side of the columns to at least the horizontal on the other side. More preferably, the top member includes a top plate having an open-ended slot which extends away from the two columns on said other side, said slot being for receiving the steering tube of a scooter or the like.

Preferably, the base member of the docking unit is provided with means, such as bolt holes, for enabling the unit to be secured to the ground.

The present invention also provides a method for docking a two-wheeled vehicle comprising positioning a wheel of said vehicle between a docking unit comprising a base member, a top member and two spaced apart columns extending therebetween, positioning an open shackle so that the two wheeled vehicle is located therein, said shackle being mounted on said top member and rotatable relative thereto, and closing said shackle to prevent removal of said two-wheeled vehicle from said docking unit. Brief description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a docking unit in accordance with the present invention and showing the unit in unused, closed mode;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the unit of Figure 1 in open mode ready to receive a two-wheeled vehicle;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the unit of Figure 1 in which a bicycle is parked; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a docking unit in accordance with the present invention in which a scooter is parked.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a first embodiment of a docking unit in accordance with the present invention includes a base 3 by means of which the unit 1 may be bolted to an appropriate surface such as that provided by a paved public area.

Unit 1 comprises two elongate vertical columns 5,7 which are spaced apart by an amount slightly greater than the width of the front forks, wheel and tyre of a bicycle. Between the top ends of columns 5 and 7 is a top plate 9 which carries a slotted holder 11 within which is located a section of a D- shackle 13. The slot 15 within holder 11 has a width sufficient to accommodate the bight 14 of the D-shackle 13 and to permit the D-shackle 13 to be rotated about bight 14 and also to be moved vertically over a limited distance. Bight 14 of D-shackle 13 is an integral part of a U-shaped member 16 having arms 17,18 the ends of which are connected by means of a locking module 19. Arm 18 of D-shackle 13 is connected to locking module 19 near one end thereof by means of a hinge joint 21. Arm 17 of D-shackle 13 is connected to locking module 19 near the other end thereof by means of a releasable lock. This includes a profiled locking element 23 at the end of arm 17 which is engageable with a further locking element located within locking module 19 when locking element 23 is inserted in the locking module 19 via orifice 25. The hinge 21 allows the locking module 19 to be rotated about the hinge 21 in a plane passing through locking element 23. In its open position locking module 19 hangs down from the remainder of the D-shackle 13 as illustrated in Figure 2. In the closed position locking module 19 is in the position shown in Figure 1.

The locking module 19 includes a locking unit (not shown) capable of over the air (OTA) transmissions. The locking unit does not require a key being capable of automatic, or self-locking, via the OTA communication with a central server sending commands, via a Smartphone type handset, to the lock.

Individual identities on the device, such as fingerprints, facial recognition and voice recognition, ensure that any one time an acceptance code sent to the device is entered to conform user acceptance of terms and conditions relating to the use of the docking unit and to hire or other charges.

The locking module 19 is provided with a theft proof sleeve 27. The arrangement provides a keyless locking device which may be used to lock a bicycle 29 by positioning the D-shackle, with the locking module 19 in the open position, at an angle such that the locking module 19 may be swung through the frame of the bicycle 29 to a position where the locking element 23 may be engaged within locking module 29. The locking status can be confirmed wirelessly.

The front of the frame of the bicycle 29, in which a steering column is mounted, as well as the associated mounting means for the steering column, are locked from removal, as illustrated in Figure 3. The front end of the bicycle 29 is then fixed securely in the bicycle cannot be removed.

The apparatus, including in particular the dimensions of the columns 5, 7 and the hinged D-shackle 13, can be designed so that secure locking can be achieved with a variety of types of bicycles. Substantial differences between the front ends of bicycles do not affect the ability of the apparatus to lock the bicycle to prevent its removal until the D-shackle 13 is unlocked and swivelled to an open position. Referring to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, a second embodiment of a docking unit 31 in accordance with the present invention is similar to that of the above-described first embodiment. A plate 34 at the top of vertical columns 37, 39 is provided with a U-shaped slot 41 to accommodate the vertical steering tube 43 of a scooter 35. The D-shackle 33 is used to secure scooter 35 by rotating the shackle 33 by about 270° to the horizontal plane as illustrated in Figure 4. The slot 35 in the holder 37 allows the D-shackle 33 to be positioned over a sufficient vertical range to enable the D-shackle 33 to be arranged around any scooter steering tube.

Claims

1. A docking unit for a two- wheeled vehicle, the unit comprising a base member, a top member and two spaced apart columns extending therebetween, wherein a space is defined between said columns for accommodating a wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle, the unit further comprising a shackle mounted on said top member and rotatable relative thereto, said shackle being openable to permit entry of said two-wheeled vehicle into said shackle and closable to prevent removal of said twowheeled vehicle from the docking unit.

2. A docking unit according to claim 1, wherein said columns extend from said base by an amount which is approximately that of the height of the handlebar headset of an average bicycle.

3. A docking unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shackle is mounted on the top member so as to permit limited movement relative thereto in a plane passing through both said columns.

4. A docking unit according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shackle includes a U-shaped member and the top member includes a holder defining a slot within which the bight of the U-shaped member is located, said slot extending in a plane parallel to a plane passing through said columns.

5. A docking unit according to claim 4, wherein the shackle includes a locking module, said locking module being attached to one arm of the U- shaped element by a joint permitting relative pivotal movement therebetween and said locking element being detachably attached to the other arm of the U- shaped element.

6. A docking unit according to claim 5, wherein the other arm of the shackle is lockably attachable to said locking module.

7. A docking unit according to claim 6, wherein said locking module and said other arm have mating engagement elements which when engaged cause the locking module and the other arm to be locked together.

8. A docking unit according to claim 7, wherein the unit includes means for unlocking said locking module and said other arm, said unlocking means being actuatable by OTA communication.

9. A docking unit according to claim 8, wherein the OTA communication includes a smartphone.

10. A docking unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shackle is rotatable from one side of the two columns to the other side.

11. A docking unit according to claim 10, wherein the top member includes a top plate having an open-ended slot which extends away from the two columns on said other side, said slot being for receiving the steering tube of a scooter or the like.

12. A docking unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base member of the docking unit is provided with means, such as bolt holes, for enabling the unit to be secured to the ground.

13. A method for docking a two-wheeled vehicle comprising positioning a wheel of said vehicle between a docking unit comprising a base member, a top member and two spaced apart columns extending therebetween, positioning an open shackle so that the two wheeled vehicle is located therein, said shackle being mounted on said top member and rotatable relative thereto, and closing said shackle to prevent removal of said twowheeled vehicle from said docking unit.