Locks – Portable – Padlocks
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2001-05-29
Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Portable
Padlocks
C070S183000, C070S233000, C070S386000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237376
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to bicycle steering lock, and in particular, to a key locking mechanism which pins the steering shaft so that the bicycle cannot be steered while the pin is in position.
Various locking mechanisms are known which employ a pin through the steering shaft to lock the steering shaft so that the bicycle cannot be steered, thus discouraging theft or tampering. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,472 to Klingfus discloses a bicycle locking device which may be manufactured as part of the original equipment of the bicycle or may be added on at a later date. The device is mounted to the tubular head portion of the bicycle with a circular mounting ring. The circular mounting ring has a rear facing body portion with a key operated locking mechanism. There is an opening through which a spring operated plunger is released or withdrawn by the key mechanism. The plunger passes through the opening in the tubular head and engages one of a number of apertures in the steering wheel post. The Klingfus device does not operate with an inner and an outer plunger and does not employ ball bearings received in a receptacle to lock the plunger into place. Furthermore, the Klingfus device does not employ a retractable plunger and lock mechanism which may be removed from the bicycle entirely.
U.S. Pat. No. 777,854 to Hirschenfeld discloses a combination type of bicycle steering lock which uses a pin which passes through the steering fork shaft so that the steering wheel cannot be turned. The lock mechanism is a combination lock with a series of rotating rings which have slots in the inner sides. The pin has a series of projections which are able to pass through the slots when the rotating rings are in the proper positions, but which prevent the pin from being withdrawn when the rings are rotated out of the proper positions. Hirschenfeld does not disclose an inner and outer pin arrangement, nor the use of a ball and pin receptacle to lock the pin in place. Hirschenfeld has an integral key and pin mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,537 to Plaiss discloses a bicycle lock which uses a standard cylinder type lock mechanism. In the Plaiss device the cylinder lock mechanism operates a crank type linkage with an attached pin which may be inserted into or withdrawn from an opening in the steering wheel fork. In addition to the pin the lock mechanism also operates a bar which locks over rings attached to a rope for anchoring the bicycle to a metal post or rack. Plaiss does not employ an inner and outer pin arrangement or ball bearings to lock the pin in position.
The limitations of the prior art are overcome by the present invention as described below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a bicycle steering lock to discourage theft or tampering. A typical arrangement of a bicycle handle bar has the handle bar attached to a fork shaft to the front wheel. The fork shaft is journaled through a tubular housing. The steering lock of the present invention is a key operated mechanism which includes a pin inserted into openings in the housing and through the fork shaft to lock the steering of the bicycle into a fixed position.
The steering lock comprises a lock guard welded to the steering housing and a pin and ball receptacle welded to the opposite side of the housing. A pin lock is inserted through the lock guard, through the housing and the fork shaft into the pin and ball receptacle, which prevents turning the fork shaft while the pin lock is in position.
The pin lock includes an outer pin containing a pair of ball bearings disposed within openings in the end of the outer pin. When inserted in the pin and ball receptacle the pair of ball bearings are disposed adjacent to depressions in the inside surface of the pin and ball receptacle.
A cylinder type key lock mechanism is attached at the end opposite the key to an inner pin rotator which engages an inner pin. The inner pin is provided with inclined wedges which interact with complementary inclined wedges so that as the key is turned, the inner pin moves axially as well as rotating.
The inner pin has a large diameter section and a reduced diameter section at its end. When the large diameter section is in contact with the ball bearings, the ball bearings protrude through the outer pin and engage the depressions in the pin and ball receptacle thereby locking the outer pin to the pin and ball receptacle. When the inner pin is withdrawn by rotating the key to the extent that the ball bearings are in contact with the reduced diameter section, the ball bearings can fall away from the depressions and the pin lock withdrawn from the bicycle.
An alternative embodiment of the inner pin and rotator employs a threaded rotator thus allowing a threaded inner pin to move axially without rotating.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a bicycle lock which prevents unauthorized tampering or theft by locking the steering of the bicycle into a fixed position thus preventing the bicycle from being steered while the lock mechanism is in position.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for such a bicycle lock which requires minimal alteration to the structure of the bicycle.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide for a bicycle lock which is durable and resistant to tampering.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a bicycle lock which may be substantially removed from the bicycle when not required.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the appended drawings as described following.
REFERENCES:
patent: 777854 (1904-12-01), Hirschenfeld
patent: 1327406 (1920-01-01), Racow
patent: 1408652 (1922-03-01), Steinberg
patent: 1692826 (1928-11-01), Ganz
patent: 2055149 (1936-09-01), Hershbain
patent: 2143502 (1939-01-01), Taman
patent: 2204908 (1940-06-01), Olson
patent: 2231546 (1941-02-01), Neiman
patent: 2303241 (1942-11-01), Taman
patent: 2358035 (1944-09-01), Schwinn
patent: 2544590 (1951-03-01), Dyson et al.
patent: 2576773 (1951-11-01), Buxton
patent: 3406708 (1968-10-01), Maydock
patent: 3863472 (1975-02-01), Klingfus
patent: 4120182 (1978-10-01), Michelman et al.
patent: 4193276 (1980-03-01), Lundberg
patent: 4232537 (1980-11-01), Plaiss
patent: 4441343 (1984-04-01), Nielsen, Jr. et al.
patent: 4901544 (1990-02-01), Jang
patent: 5085063 (1992-02-01), Van Dyke et al.
patent: 6161403 (2000-12-01), Surratt
patent: 474653 (1969-08-01), None
patent: 2603935 (1988-03-01), None
patent: 256846 (1926-08-01), None
patent: 1526304 (1978-09-01), None
patent: 379431 (1940-03-01), None
patent: 449281 (1949-06-01), None
patent: WO92/10392 (1992-06-01), None
Online catalog, Carr Lane Manufacturing Co., St. Louis, MO Quick-Release Pins, p. 6-7, Ball Lock Pins, p. 8-9, Jul. 31, 2000, www.carrane.com.
Cox, Jr. Ray F.
Gall Lloyd A.
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