MOTORCYCLE LOCK

Abstract: A lock (14) for a motorcycle has a generally U-shaped construction. The open end of the U is slipped over the brake rotor (20) of the front wheel or the sprocket of the rear wheel of the motorcycle. A bolt (33) then extends across the open end of the U-shape to hold the device in place. This bolt is engaged by a spring loaded pin (35) so as to hold it in position. Rotation of the wheels is then prevented by contact between the lock and the brake calipers on the front wheel or the chain or sprocket on the rear wheel. In order to release the bolt, a cam (39) and a spring (53) biasing the pin in the opposite direction are provided so that rotation of the cam allows the pin to be withdrawn from the bolt (33). The lock includes a lock-out mechanism (82) which prevents the motorcycle from being started when the lock is in place because it retains the ignition key. In addition to the lock, a single loop cable (16) can be provided for attachment about a stationary object and received within a channel (63) in the lock. This channel in the lock also has a spring loaded pin (70) which engages the head of the cable under the influence of the cam (39).

Description: MOTORCYCLE LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to vehicle locks and, m particularly, to motorcycle locks. In recent years, the cost of motorcycles has escala substantially. In many instances, a motorcycle can cost as m as an automobile. Therefore it is important to provide means f reducing the potential for theft of such a vehicle With automobiles the starting and steering mechanis are within the interior of the vehicle so that some security c be provided by locks on the doors of the vehicle. However, wi a motorcycle, the starter and steering wheel, and indeed t entire engine, is exposed so that it can be tampered with potential thieves. The most typical way of protecting a motorcycle again theft is by means of a large chain, which can be looped throu one of the wheels and/or a portion of the frame and then extend about a stationary object, such as a tree or lamp post. In ord to provide this capability the chain has to be relatively lon in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 feet. Thus, it is very cumberso to store. In addition, the links of the chain are readi exposed so that a thief with the proper equipment can cut throu the links of the chain at a critical point and remove it from t motorcycle. Another type of motorcycle lock which is sold under th trade name KRYPTONITE is in the form of a large U-shaped piec which has a straight cylinder extending across the open end o the U-shape. Typical Kryptonite locks are about a foot and half in length and are thus also very difficult to store. The U shaped portion of the lock also extends through a wheel of th vehicle or motorcycle. It essentially prevents theft because th lock prevents complete rotation of the wheel in that it come against the portion of the fork holding the wheel onto th motorcycle. However, kryptonite type locks can also be remove with metal cutting tools. It would be advantageous to have a motorcycle loc which is relatively small in size, for example so that it can b carried in a person's coat pocket, and that is difficult t remove even with metal cutting tools. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a motorcycle loc which is relatively small in size and is difficult to tampe with. This lock is created by means of a device which fasten onto the brake rotor of the motorcycle and has a sufficien thickness so that it cannot pass between the calipers of th motorcycle brake on that wheel or the wheel fork. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, th lock is in the form of a generally U-shaped device of approxi mately 6 inches in length and 2 1/2 inches in width. The ga between the legs of the U-shape is only wide enough to allow i to slide over the motorcycle brake rotor, i.e. approximately one half inch. When the lock is slipped over the brake rotor, i extends from the outer edge of the rotor to one of the pluralit of apertures at its inner edge. A locking bolt then extend across and closes the end of the gap between the legs of the U βhape. This bolt is held in the locking position by means of spring loaded locking pin that is received in a recess at the en of the bolt. The locking pin is in the form of two secti which are biased apart by means of an inner spring. In additi the overall pin is spring biased out of the recess in the bolt means of an outer spring. A rotatable cam fastened to the end a lock cylinder has a cam face which can be turned by the key the lock cylinder so as to compress the outer spring on locking pin and keep it engaged in the recess of the bolt. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a rotata lock-out device is included in a lock at channel in one leg the U-shaped device. In one position, a cam surface on the lo out device causes an additional pin to extend into a furt recess in the locking bolt channel against the bias of a lock- spring. Thus, with the lock-out device in this position locking bolt cannot be engaged to close the gap between legs 32 and fasten the lock to the brake rotor. However, the lock- device can be rotated to a second position by the ignition key the motorcycle, as opposed to the lock key. This moves the surface so the lock-out spring can bias the lock-out pin from bolt so it can slide across the gap and fasten the lock to brake rotor. Once in the second position the lock-out device can removed from the lock-out channel. However, the lock-out dev clamps onto the motorcycle ignition key when the lock-out dev is not installed in the lock. Therefore, when the u approaches the motorcycle to drive off, the lock-out device clamped on the ignition key and prevents the user from start the motorcycle. This is an added safety feature since it can extremely dangerous to start and drive off on the motorcycle w the lock engaged. To start the motorcycle the user must first remove lock from the rotor, then insert the combined lock-out device ignition key into the lock-out channel of the locking devi When the key is rotated, the lock-out< pin is forced into recess in the locking bolt channel by the movement of the surface on the lock-out device. If a spring is provided at end of the locking bolt, the locking bolt will automatical retract, opening the gap between the legs of the locking devic In a still further embodiment of the invention, single looped cable can be provided and attached to the locki device. The loop can be placed around some stationary item a an end of it inserted into the same channel as the lock-o device, once the lock-out device is removed. This cable end h a recess which is engaged by a cable pin that has a double acti spring. When the cable end is pushed into the channel for t lock-out device, the cable pin engages a recess in the end, th holding it in place. When the lock key and the cam attached it are rotated, not only does it release the locking pin bolt it also releases the cable pin so the cable can be removed. According to another provision of the present inve tion, a shield plate extends from the gap between the legs of t lock and surrounds some of the bolts on the hub. This makes more difficult to release the front wheel during a theft attemp BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features of the prese invention will be more readily apparent from the followi detailed description and drawings of illustrative embodiments the invention in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle equipped with t lock of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the hub, brake rotor a lock of the present invention as illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front sectional view of the lock of t present invention along line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side view of the lock of Fig. 3; Fig.5 illustrates the end of a locking cable accordi to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a side sectional view of the lock-out devi of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a front view of the lock-out device of F 6; Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a double spring lock pin; and Fig. 9 illustrates lock-out ridges according to present invention on a motorcycle ignition key. DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS In Fig. 1 there is shown a motorcycle 10 which secured to a stationary object, for example a lamp post 12, means of a lock 14 and single loop cable 16 of the prese invention. As can be seen in Fig. 1, and in more detail in Fi 2, the brake rotor 20, which is provided on the front wheel the motorcycle, is relatively thin and fits between the calipe 22 of the brake. When the brakes are applied, the calipe engage the rotor 20 to slow down and stop the motorcycle. As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the lock 14 clamped onto the rotor. It has a width, or thickness, such th it is i possible for the lock to pass beyond the calipers 22 the fork 23 which holds the wheel on the frame. Therefore, t motorcycle front wheel can only turn a short distance in eith direction before it is abruptly halted. It can be seen that most of the motorcycle can stolen if the front wheel is removed. In order to reduce t possibility of this, a shield 24 can be included in the lock 1 This shield covers some of the bolts on the hub of the motorc cle, thus making it difficult to remove the front wheel. should be noted that shield 24 covers the bolts near the hub well as the axle bolt of the hub. The distance from the hub 26 to a portion of the bra rotor will vary for different motorcycles. As a result, t shield is provided with a series of openings 25 so that the us can select the opening which fits with.the locking bolt of t lock and still provides the maximum amount of coverage of the h bolts. Fig. 3 provides a cross-sectional view of the lo along line 3-3 of Fig. 2. The lock 14 basically has an invert U-shape, with leg portions 30, 32 connected by a base portion 3 Leg 32 is made shorter than leg 30 so that it avoids the hub 2 The separation between legs 30 and 32 is sufficiently wide to f over the brake rotor 20 and shield 24. Also, the overall wid of the lock 14 is wide enough to prevent it from fitting betwe the calipers 22 of the brake or the fork 23, thus preventi complete rotation of the front wheel of the motorcycle. A locking bolt 33 is slidably positioned in a chann 34 which extends through leg 30, and at least partially throu leg 32, towards the open end of the U-shaped lock 14. Th locking bolt is positioned such that it can extend through one the apertures towards the interior edge of the brake roto whereby the lock 14 is retained on the rotor. The forward end locking bolt 33 preferably has a tapered end 40. When t locking bolt 33 slides across the gap between legs 30 and 3 this tapered end 40 comes into engagement with a locking bolt p 35. This locking pin has two cylindrical sections connected a dual action springs. The lower section 52 is connected to t upper section 54 by means of an inner spring 53. This inn spring 53 tends to bias the sections 52, 54 away from each othe An exploded view of the pin 35 is shown in Fig. 8. Pin 35 is contained in a channel 36 which has a led 37 where it narrows towards its lower portion. The pin 35 al has a ledge 55 towards its upper end where the upper part 54 larger or wider. An outer spring 56 of the dual action pin extends between the ledge 37 of the channel and the ledge 55 the upper part 54 of pin 35. As a result, this outer spri tends to bias pin 35 away from the channel 34 in which bolt slides. At the upper end of pin 35, there is a lock cylind channel 38 which holds a lock cylinder 39 which has a lo cylinder cam 39' attached to its end. At the outer edge of c 39' f there is a cam surface 62 which engages the end of pin 3 During the locking operation, when the lock key operates lo cylinder 39, cam 39' is rotated so that its surface 62 pushes p 35 downwardly against the action of outer spring 56. As t tapered end 40 of bolt 33 comes into contact with the end of pa 52 of bolt locking pin 35, inner spring 53 is compressed and pa 52 rides up over the end of the bolt 33. Bolt 33 includes annular recess 42. Thus, when the bolt 33 extends sufficient into leg 32, part 52 snaps into recess 42 under the influence inner spring 53. As long as cam surface 62 holds pin 35 in downward position against the force of outer spring 56, inn spring 53 will cause part 52 to be retained in the recess 42. When it is desired to release bolt 33 so that the lo can be removed from the brake rotor, cam 39' is rotated operation of the cylinder lock 39 using the lock key so th surface 62 allows spring 56 to cause pin 35 to retract fr recess 42 in bolt 33. Then bolt 33 can be withdrawn axially ( the left in Fig. 3) so the open end of the lock 14 is clear so can be removed from the rotor. Movement of bolt 33 can be by t manual application of pressure on the end of bolt 33 near surfa 40, when the bolt extends through leg 32, so as to cause the le end of bolt 33 to project from leg 30. If bolt 33 does n extend through leg 32, a spring 41 at the end of channel pushes bolt 33 partially out of channel 34 so it can be grasp and pulled the rest of the way out. If desired, a single loop cable 16 can be fastened the lock. Fig. 5 shows the end 15 of this cable. Like the bo 33, this end has tapered surfaces 17 and an annular recess 1 This end 15 is inserted into a lock-out channel 63 in leg 30 the lock 14. A further channel 65 which contains a cable locki pin 70, intersects channel 63. Locking pin 70 is substantial the same shape as locking bolt pin 35. In particular, it has lower narrow portion 72 connected to an upper portion 74 that h a ledge 75 where the upper portion becomes wider. These t parts 72, 74 are connected by two springs, i.e. an inner spri 73 that biases the parts away from each other and an outer spri 76 that extends from a ledge 67 where channel 65 narrows to t ledge 75 on pin 70. As a result of outer spring 76, the pin is biased away from channel 63. However, there is a surface on cam '39 which causes pin 70 to slide axially downward again the force of spring 76, so that the lower portion 72 extends in channel 63. If the head 15 of cable 16 is inserted into channel 63 the tapered end 17 pushes against part 72 causing it to ride over the edge of the head and compress spring 73.. However, wh it is fully inserted, part 72 projects downwardly into t annular channel 18 of head 15 under the influence of inner spri 73 and locks the head into the body of lock 14. If cam 39' is rotated by the lock key operating t lock cylinder 39, it not only releases pin 35 from bolt 33, i also releases pin 70 from the end of cable 16. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a shield 24 may be inserte into the gap between legs 30, 32 of the lock 14. This shield ha multiple apertures 25, only one of which is retained on bolt 3 in the locking position. By selecting the particular aperture the extension of the shield from the lock towards the hub can b adjusted for different size wheels and rotors. The shield extends down to the hub and covers two o more of the bolts which fastened the wheel and/or rotor to th hub. As a result of this shield, it is difficult to remove th front wheel and to defeat the locking mechanism of the presen invention. With the lock of the present invention, it could b very dangerous to the rider and damaging to the vehicle, if th user were to accidentally start the motorcycle and try to driv off. In the event this occurred, the motorcycle would mov properly for a few feet until the lock 14 came into engagemen with the brake calipers 22 or fork 23. At that point, rotatio of the front wheel would be immediately stopped. Such a sudde stop of the vehicle could throw the rider over the handle bars thus injuring himself. Also, it is possible that engagemen between the lock and the brake calipers could damage the bra calipers and/or the rotor. In order to prevent this fr happening, a lock-out device 82 is included in the prese invention. The lock-out device 82 is intended to be inserted in lock-out channel 63 and it has the shape shown in Figs. 6 and Before the lock is put into use, the lock-out device is.retain in channel 63. In this position, the lock-out device presses a pin 90 and causes it to block the end of the bolt 33 (Fig. 3) In this position, the bolt 33 cannot be slid across the open e of the lock and therefore the lock cannot be engaged. This true because the lock-out device 82 has a cam 84 that presses the end of pin 90. As the lock-out device is rotated, the c ceases to press on pin 90 and a spring 92 on pin 90 causes pin to move away from channel 34 so that the pin no longer bloc operation of bolt 33. Lock-out device 82 is adapted to be rotated by t ignition key, not the lock key. As shown in Fig. 9, the vehic ignition key 100 is provided with a series of indentations 10 along its edges. When the key is inserted into key slot 85 a rotated, these ridges engage ratchet teeth 86' located on pivot levers 86. As a result, these levers 86 are caused to rotate a compress springs 88. If an attempt is made to withdraw the ke the force of springs 88 acting on levers 86 prevents this fr occurring. Therefore, when the lock-out device 82 is rotated t the proper position, so that cam 84 lines up with a slot 65 i channel 63, as best shown in Fig. 4, the lock-out device and wit the key locked into it, can be withdrawn from channel 63. Thi allows pin 90 to withdraw from engagement with bolt 33. On the side of lock-out device, opposite from cam 84 there is a guide pin 87 (Fig. 7). In channel 63 there is anothe annular recess 65', which receives the pin 87 to assist the ca 84 in guiding rotation of the lock out device. At this stage, i.e. when the lock out device has bee removed, the lock can be installed as described above and th cable head 15 can be locked into lock-out channel 63. However the ignition key for the motorcycle is now retained in the lock out device. Therefore, when the user approaches the bike t drive away and attempts to insert the key into the motorcycl ignition, the lock-out device will prevent proper operation. As an alternative, a further channel 104, shown i dotted-line in Fig. 3, can extend from channel 63 to the channe 38 which holds cam 39'. In this channel 104 there is a pin 110 which is biased into an annular recess 108 in lock cylinder 39 o cam 39' via the cam surface 84 on lock-out device 82. As result, cam 39' cannot be rotated so as to release pins 70 and 3 until the lock-out device is removed. When it is removed, spring 112 between a lower enlarged part 111 of pin 110 and ledge 105 in the channel 104, biases pin 110 away from the reces 108 in lock cylinder 39 or cam 39'. When the lock-out device is returned to channel 63 shafts 89 of the lock-out device, which project from its en (Fig. 6), come into contact with a shelf 66 in channel 63 (Fig 3). These shafts 89 move axially into the lock-out device an cause rotation of levers 86. Because the levers are eccentrical ly mounted, movement of these levers against the action o springs 86 causes them to move away from the key channel 85. A a result the ratchet teeth 86' no longer engage the grooves 10 in the key 100 and the key can be removed. It is difficult to take off the front wheel because o the brake calipers. However, as a further alternative, the ga between legs 30 and 32 can be made even wider so that it fit over the rear wheel, sprocket and chain. As a result, the rea wheel will not be able to turn because the rear sprocket will no be able to turn. In order to defeat the device in this positio you have to cut the chain. However, if the chain is cut, yo have to disassemble the engine in order to insert a new one. With a still further alternative, the cable 16 can b made long enough so that it can reach the front wheel from th back wheel and vice versa. While the invention has been particularly shown described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. will be understood by those skilled in the art that vari changes in form and detail may be made therein without depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS; 1. A motorcycle lock adapted to be fastened to a apertured rotatable element of the motorcycle to prevent th element from being rotated completely due to contact with stationery part of said motorcycle, comprising: first and second leg members spaced from eac other to form a gap; a base member connecting said leg members near on end of said leg members, so as to create a lock housing which ma be located on a portion of the rotatable element, said le members defining a locking bolt channel extending through one o said leg members and at least partially through the other of sai leg members, said base member defining a locking cylinder ca channel, one of said leg members defining'a locking pin channe intersecting said locking bolt channel and said locking cylinde cam channel; a locking bolt member having a forward en containing an annular recess and being slidably arranged in sai locking bolt channel so as to be movable to extend across the ga between the other ends of said leg members and through a aperture in the rotatable element; a bolt locking pin located in said locking pi channel and being engageable with said annular recess of sai locking bolt member; a rotatable cam member located in said cam locki cylinder channel, a first surface of said cam member engagi said bolt locking pin to urge it into the recess in said locki bolt to hold it in engagement with the rotatable element, wh said cam member is in a first position, and allowing it withdraw from the recess when in a second position. 2. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 furth including a first spring biasing said first locking pin towa said cam member, and wherein said bolt locking pin comprises first a second pin members and a second spring biasing said first a second pin members away from each other. 3. A motorcycle lock according the claim 2 where said locking pin channel has a narrowed section forming a ledg said locking pin has a ledge and said first spring extends fr the ledge on said locking pin to the ledge of said seco channel, whereby said first locking pin is biased toward said c member. 4. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 where said first leg further defines a cable lock channel and a cab locking pin channel extending between said cable lock channel a said locking cylinder cam channel, and , further including a cable locking pin located i said cable locking pin channel and being engaged by a secon surface of said cam member to urge an end of said cable lockin pin into said cable lock channel. 5. A motorcycle lock according to claim 4 furthe including a cable with a cable end insertable into said cabl lock channel, said cable end having a recess for receiving th end of said cable locking pin, whereby said cable is attachabl to said locking housing. 6. A motorcycle lock according to claim 4 furthe including a lock-out device insertable into and rotatable i said cable lock channel, said lock-out device having a ca surface, said first leg member defining a lock-out pin channe extending between said cable lock channel and said locking bol channel, a lock-out pin located in said lock-out pin channel an a lock-out spring urging said lock-out pin into engagement wit the cam surface of said lock-out device such that rotation o said lock-out device causes one end of said lock-out pin t extend into said locking bolt channel to prevent said lockin bolt from sliding completely in said locking bolt channel an engaging said locking bolt pin in its recess 7. A motorcycle lock according to claim 5 wherei said cable locking pin comprises a first and second cable pi members and a spring biasing said first and second cable pi members away from each other. 8. A motorcycle lock according to claim 7 wherei said cable lock channel has a narrowed section toward sai cable channel forming a ledge, said cable pin member toward t said cam channel having a proximity ledge, and a second sprin extends from the ledge of said cable locking pin to said ledg of said cable pin channel whereby said cable locking pin i biased away from said cable channel. 9. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 wherein on leg member is shorter in length than the other leg member. 10. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 wherei said first and second leg members are separated by a distanc greater than the width of a brake rotor of a motorcycle. 11. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 furthe including a shield with apertures and wherein said first an second leg members are separated by a distance greater than th width of a brake rotor and said shield cover, said shield cove being engagable by said locking bolt passing through sai shield apertures, a portion of said shield covering means b which a wheel of said motorcycle is fastened to said motor cycle. 12. A motorcycle lock according to claim 5 and whe said cable has at least a first loop and said cable end h tapered forward end containing the annular recess engage with said cable locking pin. 13. A motorcycle lock according to claim -.1 fur including shielding means for covering at least part of a of a motorcycle and at least two retaining bolts of said hub 14. A motorcycle lock according to claim 10 wher said shielding means comprises a longitudinal portion an semicircular portion extending from said longitudinal porti said semicircular portion having a concave lateral edge, s longitudinal portion having a plurality of .apertures spa along it, said apertures having a diameter greater than diameter of said locking bolt, said longitudinal portion be located between said first and second leg members and s semicircular portion covering said hub. 15. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 wher said first and second leg members are separated by a dista greater than the width of a rear wheel, sprocket and chain o motorcycle. 16. A motorcycle lock according to claim 6 where said lockout device is cylindrical and has a guide pin opposi said cam surface, whereby rotation of said lock out device said cable channel is guided. 17. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 where said lockout device comprising eccentrically mounted pivot levers located in the interior of the lockout device opposi each other on either side of a key channel through said locko device, insertion and rotation of an ignition key for sa motorcycle causing said levers to rotate and to retain said k in said lockout device, at least one shaft projecting from an e of said lockout device under the influence of said levers, sa cable lock channel being narrowed toward its inner end to form shelf in said cable lock channel that is engageable by sa lockout shaft to cause said levers to rotate and release t ignition key. 18. A motorcycle lock according to claim 17 where the ignition key has ridges which engage ridges on said levers cause their rotation during insertion of the key into the k channel. 19. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 where said leg member housing the forward end of said locking bolt widened, whereby a gap is created between a wall of said l member and said forward end of said locking bolt, and furthe including a spring arranged in said gap. 20. A motorcycle lock according to claim 1 wherei said rotatable cam member includes a lock cylinder operated by lock key and a cam with at least one cam surface extending fro said lock cylinder and being rotatable with rotation of the loc key in said lock cylinder. 21. A motorcycle lock according to claim 6 furthe including a recess in said cam member, a cam lock channe extending between said cable lock channel and said cylinder loc cam channel, a cam lock pin locked in said cam lock channel an a cam lock pin spring for biasing said cam lock pin away fro said cylinder cam channel, the cam surface of said lock-ou device in one position urging said cam lock pin into the reces in said cam member to prevent rotation thereof and in anothe position allowing said cam lock pin to move away from said ca member so that it can be rotated.

Inventors: SHERWOOD PHIFER, SHERWOOD, PHIFER
Applicants: SHERWOOD PHIFER, SHERWOOD, PHIFER
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E05B67
IPC codes: B62H5, E05B35, E05B67