LOCKING MEANS

Abstract: A bicycle locking means comprising a fixing frame (2) substantially fixed with reference to the frame tube (1) of the steering pivot, a fixing member (4) fixable substantially unrotatably to the turnable pivot tube (3) of the steering pivot and a lock (5), the fixing frame and fixing member being lockable together to be substantially unturnable. The purpose is to provide a locking means which is safer against cracking than any locking means of prior art. As taught by the invention, the fixing member (4) constitutes a protecting flange (6) encircling the pivot tube (3) and turning downward and substantially closed in the upward direction; the fixing member has been attached unrotatably to the pivot tube by the aid of locking members such as a locking shoulder (7), this locking shoulder being disposed under said protecting flange; and the fixing member, fixing frame and lock being so disposed that the lock will lock the protecting flange substantially over the locking shoulder while the pivot tube and frame tube are locked fast to each other with the aid of the lock. The lock (5) is preferably attached to the fixing member (4); in the fixing frame (2) has been formed a locking aperture (8) into which the detent (9) of the lock has been fitted; and the detent of the lock has been arranged to lock the fixing member fast to the fixing frame. The fixing member (4) is preferably placed above the fixing frame (2), and the detend (9) of the lock (5) is movable in the direction of the frame tube (1) of the pivot tube (3) along with the locking and turnable therewith and has been provided with a bolt member (10), this latter being in the locked position of the lock locked behind a counter-shoulder (11) constituting the locking aperture (8), at the same time locking the lock and the fixing member fast to the fixing frame in the direction of the frame tube.

Description: LOCKING MEANS The present invention concerns a locking means for locking a bicycle as has been defined in the preamble of claim 1. In particular the invention concerns a bicycle steering lock which locks the turn- able pivot tube of the bicycle's steering pivot unturn- ably to the vertical frame tube of the steering pivot. The object of the invention is to provide a locking means which is safer against cracking than any earlier locking means and which passively prevents bicycle thefts more efficiently than any previous lock¬ ing means. It is a further object of the invention to provide a locking means for steering locking a bicycle by which the bicycle may also be locked on a spot, for instance in a bicycle rack. Regarding the circumstances characteristic of the invention reference is made to the claims section. The invention is based on a fixing frame substantially fixed with reference to the fixed vertical frame tube of the bicycle and a fixing member substantial- ly unturnably affixed to the turnable pivot part of the steering pivot, said fixing member being provided with a lock for locking the fixing frame and the fixing member together unturnably, that is for locking the steering of the bicycle. According to the invention, the fixing element constitutes a protecting flange encircling the • pivot tube at least partly, preferably totally, and turning downward and substantially closed in the upward direction, the members connecting the fixing member un¬ turnably to the pivot tube, that is for instance a lock- ing shoulder, being preferablv so arranged that the lock locks the protecting flange upon said members, that is for instance upon the locking shoulder, to constitute a guard for this in the locked position. The said protect¬ ing flange will then protect the members connecting the OMPI fixing member unturnably to the pivot tube e.g. against cracking. The lock is preferably so arranged that the fixing frame and fixing member can be locked to each other with the aid of a lock. The fixing of the fixing member and thereby that of the protecting flange is hereby ensured. It is possible, if desired, to attach the fixing member to the pivot tube also with the aid of a conventional counter-screw and/or a screw-tightened bolt member connecting the handle bar to the pivot tube. The invention is described in the following in detail with the aid of embodiment examples with reference being made to the attached drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 presents in elevat±onal view the lock- ing means of the invention, attached to the steering pivot of a bicycle, Fig. 2 presents the fixing member of the lock¬ ing means of Fig. 1 in elevational view, Fig. 3 shows the same in top view, Fig. 4 shows the locking washer of the lock¬ ing means of Fig. 1 in elevational view, Fig. 5 shows the same as Fig. 4 in top view, Fig. 6 shows the detached fixing frame of the locking means of Fig. 1 in elevational view, Fig. 7 shows the same as Fig. 6 in top view, Fig. 8 shows the pivot tube presented in Fig. 1 , in elevational view, Fig. 9 shows the same as Fig. 8 in top view, and Fig. 10 presents the fixing frame belonging to another locking means according to the invention, attach¬ ed to the bicycle frame and viewed obliquely from behind. The locking means depicted in Fig. 1 comprises a fixing frame 2 integrally affixed by welding to the frame tube 1 of the steering pivot, a fixing member 4 substantially unrotatably affixed to the turnable pivot OMPI V/IFO- the frame tube, and a lock 5 (shown in locked position with solid lines andin open position 5 ' with interrupted lines) . The fixing body and fixing member have been so disposed that they are lockable together by the aid of the lock so that the pivot tube and the frame tube be¬ come substantially unrotatably locked to each other. As taught by the invention, the fixing member constitutes a protecting flange 6 encircling the pivot tube 3 and turning downward, and substantially closed in the upward direction. The fixing member 4 has been unturnably connected to the pivot tube with the aid of locking elements, such as a locking shoulder 7. The locking elements 7 have been placed under the protect- ing flange 6 so that the protecting flange prevents the locking elements from being cracked. In the embodiment depicted, the fixing member 4, fixing frame and lock 5 have been so diposed that the lock will lock the protecting flange 6 in a position substantially over the locking elements when the pivot tube 3 and frame tube 1 are locked together with the aid of the lock. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, the lock 5 has been connected to the fixing member 4 to be vertical ly movable as the lock is being locked and opened. On the fixing frame 2 has been provided a vertical locking aperture 8, in which the detent 9 of the lock has been accommodated. The locking member 4 with lock 5 has been disposed above the fixing frame 2. The detent 9 of the lock 5 has been disposed to lock the fixing member ' fast to the fixing frame. In the embodiment depicted, the detent is rotatable as the lock is locked or opened, and it has been provided with a bolt element 10, this latter being disposed to become locked, in the locked position, behind a stop shoulder 11 (to be seen in Fig. 7) formed by the rim of the locking aperture 8, at the same time OMPI locking the lock and fastening member fast to the fixing frame in the direction of the frame tube. The bolt elements have in Fig. 7 been indicated with the reference numeral 10' referring to the unlocked position of the lock. The locking of Fig. 1 furthermore comprises a locking washer 12, visible in Figs 4 and 5, which has been placed under the fixing member 4 and provided with a stop 14 fitted into a slot-like aperture 13 (visible in Figs 8-9) provided on the pivot tube 3, for locking the locking washer unturnably to the pivot tube. In the embodiment shown, the locking member 4 has been provided with a locking aperture 15 (visible in Fig. 3) , into which the stop 14 has been so fitted that the locking washer 13 with stop 14 becomes unturnably locked also to the fixing member with the said stop 14 or the lock¬ ing shoulder -7 in the locking aperture 15 of the fixing member. The locking washer 12 has, according to Figs 4-5, in the embodiment depicted been provided with an aperture 21 admitting the pivot tube 3. This aperture 21 is eccentric so that the locking washer with its stop 14 is freely installable in its place with the stop in the aperture 13 of the pivot tube. Furthermore, the locking washer 12 has been disposed under the protect¬ ing flange 6 so that when the protecting flange is mount¬ ed upon the locking washer this will be immovable in the direction of the stop. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the fixing frame 2 has been connected to the frame tube by welding; in the embodiment shown in Fig. 10 there has been formed on the fixing frame a slit-like aperture ad¬ mitting the vertical frame tube 1 of the steering pivot and a mounting sleeve 20 admitting the horizontal frame tube 19 for installing the fixing frame unrotatably about the vertical frame tube with the horizontal frame tube in said mounting sleeve. If required, a fixing frame a. ~ O PI. shown in Fig. 10 may be installed on a bicycle that is finished to completion. The fixing frame does not absolutely require a special attachment if the fixing member 4 is locked immovably in vertical direction to the pivot tube e.g. with the aid of a nut 22, to delimit the upward movement of the fixing frame. To the locking means of Fig. 1 essentially belongs a staying arm 16 attached to a stationary support such as a bicycle rack (not depicted in the figure) , this arm being provided with an aperture 17 admitting the detent 9 and being adapted to be lockable fast between the fixing frame 2 and the fixing member 4 with the detent in said aperture when the lock 5 is in the locked position. It should be noted that the fixing member 4 may be connected to the pivot tube 3, if desired, with the aid of any kind of locking elements, such as a cotter pin, locking screw,- locking nut, etc. Furthermore, the lock 5 may in its locked position lock the fixing member 4 and the fixing frame 2 fast to each other merely in the direction of rotation of the pivot tube 3 e.g. when movement with reference to each other of the fixing member and fixing frame has been prevented by the aid of special means, such as a locking screw, locking nut, cotter pin, etc. The embodiment examples are meant for illustration of the invention, without in any way confin¬ ing it. OMPI-

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Locking means for locking a bicycle, comprising a fixing frame (2) substantially fixed with reference to the frame tube (1) of the steering pivot, a fixing member (4) substantially unturnably affixable to the turnable pivot tube (3) of the steering pivot disposed within the frame tube, and a lock (5) , the fixing frame and fixing member being so disposed that the pivot tube and the frame tube become locked together to be substantially unturnable, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fixing member (4) constitutes a protecting flange (6) encircling the pivot tube (3) and turning downward and which is up¬ wardly substantially closed, that the fixing member has been unturnably attached to the pivot tube by the aid of locking elements such as a locking shoulder (7) , said locking shoulder being disposed under said protect¬ ing flange, and that the fixing member, fixing frame and lock have been so disposed that the lock locks the protective flange fast substantially over the locking shoulder when the pivot tube and frame tube are locked to each other with the aid of the lock. 2. Locking means according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lock (5) has been connected to the fixing member (4) , that in the fixing frame (2) has been provided a locking aperture (8) into . which the detent (9) of the lock has been fitted, and that the detent of the lock has been disposed to lock the fixing element fast to the fixing frame. 3. Locking means according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fixing member (4) has been disposed above the fixing frame (2) , and that the detent (9) of the lock (5) is in the direction of the frame tube of the pivot tube (3) movable in con¬ formity with the locking and rotatable, and provided with a bolt member (10), this latter in the locked position of the lock being locked behind a stop shoulder (11) constituting a locking aperture (8) , at the same time locking the lock and the fixing member fast to the fixing frame in the direction of the frame tube. 4. Locking means according to any one of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the locking means comprises a locking washer (12) which has been disposed under the fixing member (4) and provided with a stop (14) fitted into a slit-like aperture (13) made in the pivot tube (3) for locking the locking washer unturnably fast to the pivot tube, and that the locking washer has been unturnably connected to the fixing member (4) . 5. Locking means according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fixing member (4) has been provided with a locking aperture (15), into which the stop (14) has been so fitted that the locking washer (12) with its stop will lock the fixing member un- turnably fast to the pivot tube (3) . 61 Locking means according to claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the locking washer (12) has been provided with an aperture (21) admitting the pivot tube, eccentrically so that the locking washer with its stop (14) is freely mountable in its place with the stop in the aperture (13) of the pivot tube, and that the locking washer (12) has been disposed under the protecting flange (6) immovably in the direction of the stop. 7. Locking means according to any one of claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e i i z e d in that the lock¬ ing means comprises a locking arm (16) connected with a substantially stationary support, such as a bicycle rack, said arm being provided with an aperture (17) through which the detent (9) can pass and has been disposed to be lockable between the fixing frame (2) and the fixing OMPI member (4) with the detent in said aperture. 8. Locking means according to any one of claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fixing frame (2) has been affixed integrally, e.g. by welding or by screw attachment, to the frame tube. 9. Locking means according to any one of claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that on the fixing frame (2) has been produced a slit-like aperture (18) admitting the vertical frame tube (1 ) of the steering pivot and a mounting sleeve (20) admitting the horizontal frame tube (19) for mounting the fixing frame unturnably around the vertical frame tube with the horizontal frame tube in the mounting sleeve. OMPI

Inventors: SAARNIVAARA ESKO SAKARI, SAARNIVAARA, ESKO, SAKARI
Applicants: STYC OY
Application year: 1981
Main classification: B62H5
IPC codes: B62H5