Locks – Special application – For cycles
Patent
1995-01-25
1997-02-04
Meyers, Steven N.
Locks
Special application
For cycles
70 49, 70234, B62H 500, E05B 7100
Patent
active
055987273
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to improvements in locks for bicycles and the like.
The theft of bicycles is becoming increasingly common and it is necessary either to immobilise a bicycle, for example, by removing one of its wheels and/or by securing the bicycle to a fixed object such as railings by means of a chain and padlock in order to prevent theft. While the removal of a wheel is a fairly effective deterrent against theft, this is time- consuming and it is still necessary to secure the detached wheel in some way to the rest of the bicycle. The other alternative is for the rider to take the wheel away with him or her and this is inconvenient and not always practical.
A separate chain and padlock for securing a bicycle to railings or the like prevents opportune theft but the cyclist has to remember to take the chain and padlock with him or her at all times and there is also the problem of stowing the chain and padlock when the bicycle is being ridden. One attempt at solving these problems has been to provide a casing which is adapted to be secured to a frame member of a bicycle and which contains a wire which is secured at one end to the casing. The wire can be passed around part of the bicycle, for example through one of the wheels and around a frame member, and its other end is provided with means for securing it to the casing by locking means. The locking means is operated by a key. The wire is arranged to be stowed in the casing when not in use and a detachable lid is arranged to be fitted to the casing to retain the stowed wire in the casing.
While this prior arrangement solves a number of the problems associated with securing a bicycle against theft, it has been found that the stowing of the wire in the easing is a fiddly business and can get one's hands dirty when the wire has been used for some time and has not been regularly cleaned. Further, the lid can come off the easing when the bicycle is being ridden and is then either lost or, if secured to the casing, can flap about and cause damage to the paintwork of the bicycle.
The present invention aims to provide a bicycle lock which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.
According to the invention, there is provided a lock for a bicycle or the like which comprises a first fixed casing member adapted to be secured to a frame member of a bicycle or the like and a second casing member which is movable relative to the first casing member; wherein the first casing member is cup-shaped with frame member mounting means provided on the outer surface of the cup wall and a raised boss extending from the base substantially at the centre thereof and the second casing member is adapted to fit into the first casing member and to engage with the boss in such a manner that the second casing member is rotatable with respect to the first easing member; one end of a wire or cable being secured to a central region of the second easing member and the wire or cable then being wound around the periphery of the second casing member when the lock is not in use, the other end of the wire or cable extending through a slot in the side wall of the first easing member, lock means being provided with which the said other end of the wire or cable is engageable and retracting means being provided whereby the second casing member is arranged to rotate with respect to the first casing member to draw the wire or cable into the first casing member by being wound round the periphery of the second casing member as the latter is rotated by the retracting means, and wherein the lock is provided with audible and/or visual alarm means designed to be activated by vibration if attempts are made to move the lock.
Preferably, the boss is formed integrally with the first casing member and lock means are located within the boss. The lock means are desirably arranged to be operated by a key with the slot for the key being accessible from the outside of the first casing member. The lock means may be arranged to rotate with the second casing member.
The retracting member preferably takes the form o
REFERENCES:
patent: 4044577 (1977-08-01), Horlacher
patent: 5406257 (1995-04-01), Saito
Gell Harold
Meyers Steven N.
Pham Tuyet-Phuong
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