LOCKING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR BICYCLES

Abstract: Locking device for securing objects, in particular bicycles, comprising two frame parts (4, 5) which are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position the frame parts enclose the object in question and can be locked by means of a separate lock cassette (16) which is insertable into a lock casing (10) on one of the frame parts (4) and lockable in inserted position while positively engaging the other frame part in the closed position. The engaging means, which effect the positive engagement between the lock cassette and the other frame part, are disposed in a protected, enclosed portion of the locking device.

Description: Locking device, particularly for bicycles The invention relates to a locking device for theft preven¬ tive fastening of loose objects to a part of a construction, a building or the like. The background of the invention is the increasing rate of bicycle thefts in recent years, and the inventive idea has appeared in an attempt to solve this problem. However, the present locking device can be used in a number of different situations where one wishes to fas en-a- -loose object. To prevent bicycle thefts one normally uses locks which enga between the spokes of the back wheel or locking ' devices in the form of frame or chain locks by means of which the bicycle can be fastened to a stationary part of a construc¬ tion, a building or the like. The locking devices of the latter kind are expensive to buy, heavy and clumsy to bring along during bicycle trips and do not always offer a satis- factory protection against theft. For example, chains must be made of a specially hardened steel to withstand sawing with a hacksaw or cutting with heavy shears. Moreover, it is often difficult to find a suitable stationary -structure at which to anchor the bicycle. The present locking device, the features of which appear from the appended claims, eliminates these drawbacks. For the fast ning of bicycles at suitable bicycle parking spots one can dispose in advance prepared locking devices in the form, of tw mutually movable frame portions, e.g. mounted on a po.st, while the cyclist only has to bring a lock cassette which fit into One of the frame parts and permits locking of the frame parts in a closed position around a portion of the bicycle frame. Upon unlocking,the cyclist takes the lock cassette with him , the cassette having a low weight, small dimensions and can be purchased at low cost. OMPI As mentioned, he locking device can be used for fastening other objects, e.g» special vehicles, such as trailers and caravans, small boats (in particular on the shore), out¬ board motors on boats (e.g. in tilted position) , sports equipment, such as skis, luggage, theft attractive loose objects at public places and roads, e.g. lamps in connection with road construction, etc. The invention will be explained further below with reference to th-≥ appended drawings illustrating various embodiments. Fig. 1 shows in a perspective view a bicycle which is secure to a ground post by means of a locking device according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows the locking device mounted at the top of the post in open position; Fig. 3 shows the same locking device in closed position as well as a separate lock cassette, which is insertable in a sleeve on one frame part of the locking device. Fig. 4 shows a cross section through the sleeve with inserte lock cassette in locking engagement with a latch means on the other frame part; Fig. 5 shows a section along the line V-V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows a section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 4; Fig * 7 shows a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5, where in the lock cassette is partially withdrawn from the sleeve; Fig. 8 shows a similar locking device on a parking-meter pos Fig. 9 s ows in a perspective view a second embodiment in¬ tended for fastening of a trailer or a caravan, Fig; * 10 shows in a perspective view a lockable bicycle stand with a number of posts provided with locking devices according to Figs. 1-7. Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a post with two locking devices according to a third embodiment of the invention; a Fig. 12 shows in a larger scale one of the locking devices in Fig. 11. , In Fig. 1 there is shown a post 1 secured by molding to the ground, e.g. at a parking space, a pavement or the like, a bicycle being secured to the post by means of a locking device 2, which is fixedly mounted at the top of the post. As appears better from Fig. 2, the locking device 2 accor¬ ding to this embodiment σonsists substantially of two mutu¬ ally coupled frame parts 4,5 which are pivotable at a hinge and which are preferably made of hardened band steel and electro-plated. One frame part 4 is fixedly secured to the post 1 in that a portion 6 of the band steel is bent a whole turn around the post 1 and is fixed vertically in that a locking pin is inserted in a bore and cut and deformed in such a way that the joint cannot be separated, with normal ha tools. The frame part 4 futher comprises a web portion 7 with double material, which if necessary can be mutually joined by welding or riveting, and a generally half circular half elliptical portion 8, which ends in a free end with an end portion 9 bent to a part circular shape. The latter com¬ prises an angle which is preferably greater than 180 (com¬ pare Figure 4) and encloses a tubular, cylindrical sleeve 10 with a closed upper end in the form of a cap 11. The sleeve with its fixed cap 11 is fastened to the end portion 9 of the frame part 4, preferably by welding. The length of the web portion 7 between the post 1 and the adjoining, half ell tical portion 8 can be chosen at will, so that a bicycle can be secured in upright position. In Fig. 8 there is shown OMPI a modification with a web portion 7 f , which is longer than t one in Fig. 2 with regard to the fact that the post 1' is provided with a parking meter 12. Hereby, a bicycle can be secured in upright position without the parking meter being in the way. The other frame part 5 (see Fig. 2) comprises a band portion extending from the hinge 3 and being substantially half cir¬ cular or half elliptical, the free end of which having a latch means in the form of a latch pin 13 having a side rece 14 and being secured by welding. The latch pin extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the hinge 3 in a direc¬ tion towards theopposite fram part 4, in which a correspondi recess 15 is made in the bent end portion 9 for receiving the latch pin 13. In fig. 3 the locking device is shown in closed position, th enclosed frame portion R of the bicycle in Fig. 1 being in¬ dicated by dashed lines. The frame parts 4,5 are thus brough towards each other, so that the free end of the frame part 5 adjoins the bent end portion 9 of the frame part 4. The design is such that the end surface of the end portion 9 abu the outside of the frame part 5 at the end of the latter. Here, the latch pin 13 is hidden in the recess 15 except for the rear end surface which lies substantially in line with the mantle surface of the bent portion 9. In this closed position, the latch pin 13 is well protected against attack by means of hand tools, such as saws, shears, chisels or the like. For securing the device in the closed position according to Fig. 3, a separate lock cassette 16 is used according to-the invention, which is substantially cylindrical and fits into the sleeve 10. The lock cassette has on its mantle surface on the one hand a latch bolt 17 projecting sideways and being spring loaded towards the position extending sideways and, on the other hand, a longitudinal rim 18, which serves as a guide in a corresponding groove inside the sleeve 10. Atthe top- hecassette 16 has a central, fixed pin 19, which upon insertion of the lock cassette 16 into the sleeve 10 engages into the side recess 14 of the latch pin 13, as appears from the cross section in Fig. 4 and the two longi- tudinal sections in Figs. 5 and 6. In inserted position, the latch bolt 17 springs out sideways into a corresponding recess 20 (Fig. 5) at the inside of the sleeve. The fix pin 19 is at the same time inserted from below into a bottom hole 21 in the cap 11 of the sleeve 10. Hereby, the pin 19 is securely fastened and can with¬ stand strong forces at a possible attempt to break the lock. At the same time, the latch pin 13 is protected in that it extends through the recess 15 of the end portion, a hole 22 in the mantle wall of the sleeve 10 and between th underside of the cap 11 and the upper surface of the lock cas¬ sette 16 while positively engaging the pin 19. The lock cas sette 16 is securely fastened also against rotation by the engagement of the guide rim 8 in a groove 23 at the inside of the sleeve 10 (Fig. 6) . To unlock the device one uses a key 24 associated with the lock cassette 16 and being insertable into the lower end surface thereof. When the key is turned, the latch bolt 17 i withdrawn and the locking engagement of the latter with . the recess 20 ceases and the whole lock cassette 16 can be drawn downwardly out of the sleeve 10. Then, the pin 19 disengages from the latch pin 13, so that the frame part 5 can be swung about the hinge 3, the locking device being brought into its open position according to Fig. 2. The bicycle locking device shown in Figs. 1-8 has many ' advan¬ tages. The stationary structures are easy to install, since the post or other stationary building parts can be used for mounting a frame device according to Fig. 2. The fastening can of course be effected in another way than by means of an enclosing band portion 6 , e.g. through direct welding or riveting of the fixed frame part 4. A locking device being - ?. ή OMPI normally located outdoors is thus sturdy and resistant to mechanical strain and weather resistant. The sleeve 10 is totally closed upwards and is held internally free of rain, snow and ice, so that the locking device can be operational during all seasons and weather conditions. The most sensitive part of the locking device, i.e. the lock cassette 16 and the associated key 24, is disposed in the sleeve only in locked, closed position and is otherwise taken" care of by the cyclist. For community facilities such invidual lock cassettes can be sold at a price which will finance the -installment costs and yet provide a relatively low bicycle parking cost, at least for those who can keep and use the cassette for a long time. Fig. 10 shows how a number of posts la,1b,1c with locking de¬ vices 2a, 2b, 2c (according to Fig. 2) are permanently se- cured to a common stand in the form of an electro-plated stee band 25 (or a beam) , which is anchored to the ground at its ends and extends at about 10 cm above the ground plane. The -installation of such a lockable bicycle stand (with a desired number of posts) is particularly simple and economi- cally. The invention can be applied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims. In Fig. 9 there is shown an embodiment intended for securing of trailers and caravans and similar vehicle provided with a pulling device to be coupled to a pulling hook on a car. In this case, the frame device is dis¬ posed on an upright support 26 being anchored to the ground. On the upper end thereof there are disposed a fixed frame part 27 and a pivotable frame part 28. Both frame parts have an outwardly extended portion 29 and 30, respectively, which in the closed position (dashed in the figure) forms a widene opening 30 for the pulling device of the vehicle. The pivotab frame 28 is journalled on a pivot axis 31 in a recess 32 in the support. From the shown, open position the frame part 28 can be swung in the direction of the arrow P into the dashed, closed position. As in the previous embodiment, the pivotable franepart 28 has a latch pin 33 which in locking position extends into a locking sleeve 34 secured to the fixed frame part and corresponding to the sleeve 10 in the previous embo¬ diment. The locking sleeve 34 is secured to the free end of the frame part 27 by means of an enclosing steel band 35 fastened by welding. For locking the frame device in the closed position one uses a lock cassette (not shown) as in the previous case. Another embodiment of a lockable bicycle stand is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Two hardened and electro-plated steel tubes 36, 37 are both . fastened on a support plate 38' inten¬ ded to be cast into or welded onto a foundation. The steel tubes 36, 37 are welded together at a few places and are bent away from each * other at the top, so that the respective tube end points a few degrees obliquely downwardly, e.g. about 2-5? relative to the horisontal plane. Thereby, rain and snow will be prevented from entering through the opening of the tube end. In Fig. 12 the bicyle locking device is shown in detail.. At the end of the tube 37 an extension in the form of a squar bar 38 is fastened by welding, which forms a fix frame part and co-operates with a movable framepart 39. This movable frame part 39 is rectilinearly displaceable in the direc- tion of the tube 37 between an inserted, locking position (fully drawn) and a retracted, releasing position (dashed) . The frame part 39 consists substantially of an outer, half circular portion 39' and an inner, straight portion 39''. The straight portion 39* ' of the frame part is guided inside the end of the tube 37 in an internal guide 40, which consists of a plate bent into a U-formed cross-section which is wel¬ ded to a longitudinal slot in the tube end (in which slot O PI the fix frame part or square bar 38 is thereafter fastened by welding so as to form a part of the guide for the straigh portion 39' ' o-f the movable frame part 39). Adjacent to its inner end, the straight portion 29 * ' of the frame part has a pin 41 extending sideways and forming an abutment co-operating with the inner end of the guide plate 40 so as to secure that the movable frame part 39 cannot b retracted beyond the position shown in dashed lines. Somewhat longer from the end of the tube 37 than the inner end of the guide 40 there is a sleeve-Like lock casing 42 fastened by welding transversely on the outside of the tube 37, so that the free end of the lock casing points obli ly downwardly about 10-20°, preferably about 15° ' relative to the horisontal plane. In the same way as in the preceding embodiments the lock casing 42 contains a releasable lock cassette, which in inserted position(as shown) projects with an end pin 44 into a bore 43 in the straight portion 39' ' of the frame part, whereby the movable frame part is securely fastened in its inserted, locking position. In this locking position the outer ends of the fixed and movable frame parts 38 and 39, respectively, engage positively with each other i such a way that these outer ends cannot be forced apart from each other transversally to the displacement direction by deformation of one frame part or the other by means of ordi¬ nary hand tools. It has turned out that the embodiment according to Figs 11 and 12 has a number of essential advantages in relation. % to the preceding embodiments, namely: - - - particularly inexpensive and simple manufacture; - smaller dimensions are permitted for the same strength; corrosion of the hinge and problems in electro-plating the same are avoided. The device is therefore less sensi¬ tive to weather conditions; the lock engagement portions (43,44) are even better pro¬ tected; and - the handling on the part of the cyclist/user is simpli¬ fied. Thus, the movable frame part can be displaced in both directions by means of the bicycle upon insertion of the bicycle frame into engagement with the outer portion 39' of the movable frame part. The locking device according to the invention can preverably be used also for other objects than vehicles. Thus, the frame devices according to Figs. 2 and 12,. after proper ad- justment of the shape of the frame parts (e.g. rectangular enclosed position) , can be mounted at winter sport establish ments for locking up skis. In such cases lock cassettes, adjusted to the lock sleeves of the frame devices, can e.g. be rented out or sold together with lift cards.- Moreover, the detailed embodiment can of course be varied at wish. possible modification is to form the end portio of the fixed frame part as a lock sleeve, in which case no special lock sleeve is needed. The lock casing or the sleeve can alternatively be disposed on the movable frame part.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. Locking device for theft preventive fastening of loose objects to a part (1; 26', 36, 37) of a construction, a buil ding or the like, comprising at least two mutually coupled frame parts (4,5; 27,28; 38,39) which are movable relative each other between an open position and a closed position, which closed position the frame parts form a closed configu rationfastening said object and are lockable by means of a separate lock cassette (16), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a sleeve-like lock casing (10; 34,42) is fastened to o of the frame parts (4,27; 38) and that—the separate lock cassette (16) is insertable into the lock casing and lockab in inserted position while positively engaging the other frame part (5; 28,39) in said closed pos iσn, wherein the positively engaging means (13,19; 33,19;43,44) ,which effect said positive engagement between the locking cassette and t other frame part,are located in an enclosed portion of the locking device. 2. Locking device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e in that one frame part (4,9) at least partially encloses the sleeve (1) and that the portion (9) of the frame part (4) enclosing the sleeve (10) is so shaped that this portion in the closed positition of the locking device also, encloses said engaging means (13,19) . 3. Locking device according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that the sleeve-like lock casing (10) is closed at one end (11) thereof and that the lock cassette (16) is insertable into the other end of the sleeve-like- portion. 4. Locking device according to anyone of claims 1-3, c h a t e r i z e d in that said engaging means consist of a latch pi (13) with a side recess (14) and that the lock cassette (16) has a pin (19) which upon insertion of the lock cassette (16) into the lock casing (10) projects into the side recess (14)of the latch in and thereb said positive engagement. 5. Locking device according to anyone of claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one frame part (5) is pivotably journalled by means of a hinge (3) connec¬ ting the two frame parts (4,5) to each other. 6. Locking device according to anyone of claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the two frame parts are connected to a common stationary support (1;26; 36,37), one of the frame parts (4; 27; 38) being fixedly secured to support and the other frame part (5;28;39) being movable except in said closed position. 7. Locking device according to claim 1 or 6, c h * a r a c- t e r i z e d in that said other frame part (39) is dis- placeably guided in relation to said one frame part (38) . 8. Locking device according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that said one frame part (38) is fixedly secured to a tube portion (37,40), which serves as a guide for said other frame part (39) and on which the lock casing (42) is fastened. 9. Lock cassette for a locking device according to anyone of the preceding claims, comprising a substantially cylindri¬ cal lock body (16) having a transversely projecting, spring- loaded latch bolt (17), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lock body (16) is provided with a fixed latch pin (19;44) at one end surface. 10. Lock cassette according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the lock body (16) at its cylindrical mantle surface has a guide means (18) for co-operation with a corresponding guide means (23) in a sleeve (10;42), in which the lock 'cassette is insertable, whereby rotation of the lock cassette in the sleeve is prevented. OMPI

Inventors: MATTESSON BENGT, OLSSON MADELEINE, MATTESSON, BENGT, OLSSON, MADELEINE
Applicants: MATTESSON BENGT, OLSSON MADELEINE, MATTESSON, BENGT, OLSSON, MADELEINE
Application year: 1982
Main classification: E05B73
IPC codes: B62H3