U-LOCK SECURITY SPACER

Abstract: A security spacer (24) is used with a U-lock (16) to provide additional security. The U-lock (16) includes a U-shaped bar (18) and a header (20). In certain circumstances, the arms of the U-lock (16) are sufficiently longer than the object (10) being locked that a gap (22) between the object (10) and header (20) is wide enough to allow a thief to insert a scissors jack between the arms and break the lock. The security spacer (24) substantially fills the gap to prevent the insertion of a jack and is held in place by the header (20). The security spacer (24) preferably includes two oval cylinders (26) connected at opposite ends of a metal bar (28).

Description: U-LOCK SECURITY SPACER Field of the Invention This invention relates to "the field of locks. More particularly, this invention relates to U-lockε which are commonly used for bicycles. Background of the Invention U-locks are commonly used for locking a bicycle to prevent theft of the bicycle. Ordinarily, a rider locks the bicycle frame and at least one wheel to a post. Often, an experienced rider will remove the front wheel of the bicycle in order to lock it as well. A U-lock locks principally includes a bar which has been formed into a U-shape and a removable header. The header is rectangular bar and includes a passive hole and -a locking hole ■each -space about one inch from opposite ends of the header. A rotating lock is fitted in the end of the header. The U-bar is formed of metal bar stock formed into a U-shape whose arms are in the range of four to six inches apart. A first arm includes a 90° bend which is positioned about one inch from its end forming a short bar section. The second arm is formed to properly mate with the rotating lock of the header. To lock the U-lock, the short bar section is placed into the passive hole and the U-bar and the header are rotated about the 90° bend relative to one another so that the entire short bar section is pushed inside the header and the second end of the U- bar enters the locking hole. The rotating lock is then activated by a key to prevent the second end of the lock from being removed from the header thereby securely holding the lock closed. SUBSTITUTESHEET During use, the ends of the U-bar are customarily, passed around a post and around a portion of the frame and one tire (or both) of a bicycle. It is impossible to predict the thickness of the post to which a rider may desire to lock a bicycle. Further, bicycles are available with a variety sizes for frame tubes, frame tube spacing tires and wheels. U-locks are also used to lock motorcyles, boats, jetskis and many other objects. It is possible and likely that the U-bar of such a lock is longer than the combined dimension of the bicycle, tire and post. This excess length may be long enough to allow an unscrupulous persons to insert an automobile jack between the arms of the u-bar. Because a jack is designed to lift the weight of an automobile, it is sufficiently strong to cause the U-lock to fail simply by opening the lock. A practiced thief can pre-size the jack to the proper spacing of a U-lock so that the jack need only be expanded and complete such a theft in approximately twenty seconds. Summary of the Invention A security spacer 24 is used with a U-lock 16 to provide additional security. The U-lock includes a U-shaped bar and a header. In certain circumstances, the arms of the U-lock are sufficiently longer than the object being locked that a gap between the object and header is wide enough to allow a thief to insert a jack between the arms and break the lock. The security spacer substantially fills the gap to prevent the insertion of a jack and is held in place by the header. The security spacer preferably includes two oval cylinders connected at opposite ends of a metal bar. S UB STITUTESHEET Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in use with a U-lock and a portion of a bicycle. Figure 2 is an top section view of a single spacer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention used with a U-lock to lock a bicycle to a post. Figure 3 is an top section view of two spacers according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention used in with a U-lock to lock a bicycle to a post. Figure 4 ' is a partial exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with a U-lock. Figure 5 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a front view of a first alternate embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a front view of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a front view of a third alternate embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a front view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a front view of a fifth alternate embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in use with a U-lock and a portion of a bicycle. A portion of bicycle frame 10 and a wheel 12 are locked to a pole 14 by a U-lock 16. For purposes of this disclosure, the pole is any convenient object to which a bicycle can be locked, such as a parking meter, bicycle rack, SU BS TITUTESHEET tree, street sign and the like. The U-lock includes a U-bar 18 and a header 20. Figure 2 is an top section view across the line 2-2 of Figure 1. In some circumstances, the distance 22 between the bicycle frame 10 and the header 20 of the U-lock 16 is sufficiently large to allow a jack to be inserted therein. The jack can be opened between the arms of the U-bar to cause the U-lock to fail by breaking so that the bicycle can be stolen. To prevent such a theft, a security spacer 24 is placed over the two arms of the U-bar which fills up the gap 22 preventing a thief from inserting a jack between the arms. The header is then attached and locked to the U-bar which secures the security spacer 24 in place. Thus, the thief is prevented from causing the U-lock to fail. The entire gap need not, and usually is not, completely filled. Generally, a gap-of• up to 3/4 of an inch will suffice to prevent a theft. The gap is substantially filled. The size of the gap can vary. For example. Figure 3 shows the same U-lock 16 as in Figure 2 where the bicycle 10A is narrower and the pole 14A has a smaller diameter than the bicycle 10 and the pole 14 shown in Figure 2. Thus, the gap 22A is wider than the gap 22 of Figure 2. In such circumstances, the gap 22A may be sufficiently wide that the rider can use two security spacers 24 as shown in Figure 3. In the alternative, security spacers 24 can also be manufactured having varying widths. Figures 2 and 3 show security spacers 24 mounted immediately adjacent the header 20 of the U-lock 16. This is not necessary. It is possible to use the security spacer 24 between the end of the lock and S UB STITUTESHEET the pole, between the pole and the bicycle or any combination of locations. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the preferred security spacer 24. The security spacer 24 includes two apertured ends, each one to accept an arm of a U-lock 16. The apertured ends are formed through an oval cylinder 26. A blocking bar 28 joins the two oval cylinders 26 spanning the gap between the apertured ends. The blocking bar 28 prevents a jack from being inserted between the arms of the U- lock 16 where the security spacer 24 is located. The oval shape of the cylinder 26 is preferred because it uses a minimum of material while still being easy to insert the arm of the U-lock 16 that has the short bar section through the apertured end. Naturally, other cylindrical shapes will also perform the same function. While installing the security spacer 24 onto the U-lock 16, the rider may be required to first insert the short bar section through one apertured end of the security spacer 24 and rotating the U-lock and security spacer relative to each other about the 90° bend and then insert the second arm of the U-lock through the other apertured end. The security spacer 24 is preferably formed of steel. Similar lengths of steel tubing that has been deformed into an oval shape and steel plate are welded together to form the structure shown in Figure 4. The assembled security spacer 24 is then dipped into a bath of paint, liquid vinyl or other polymer to provide an aesthetic coating. The coating also makes the security spacer 24 less likely to scratch the painted surfaces of the rider's bicycle. Another approach to assembling production quantities of the security spacer 24 is to weld considerable lengths of steel tubing to plate. This SU B STITUTESHEET assembly can then be driven between compression rollers to deform the tubing into the oval shape. Security spacers 24 of appropriate lengths are then sliced off the assembly. Experimental results that the strength of the U-lock 16 is enhanced by using security spacers 24. In fact, applying a jack to a U-lock 16 between two security spacers 24 has caused the jack to fail rather than the U-lock. Thus, a theft may be prevented in a situation where a security spacer 24 is used but a sufficiently large gap remains to allow the insertion of a jack. Figure 5 " shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Clearly, the invention can be practiced using alternate shapes for the apertured ends. Figure 6 shows a first alternate embodiment of the invention having a circular apertured end. Figure 7 shows a second alternate embodiment of the invention having a flattened circular apertured end. Figure 8 shows a third alternate embodiment of the invention having a rectangular apertured end. Figure 9 shows a fourth alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the spacer is a loop. This embodiment uses more material than those previously discussed. Further, this embodiment of the invention cannot be used between the end of the U-lock and the pole because it will merely slide off the end of the U-lock. Figure 10 shows a fifth alternate of the invention. A bar has two apertured ends formed through it, such as by drilling, to accept the arms of the U-lock. This embodiment uses more material than the embodiments previously described but is potentially the strongest. S UB STITUTESHEET

Claims: C L A I M S What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for use with a U-lock having a U-shaped bar with two arms and a header wherein the arms may be longer than an object being locked thereby providing a gap between the U-lock and the header, the apparatus comprising: a) spacer means detachably coupled to each arm for substantially filling the gap; and b) header means coupled to an end of each arm for securing the spacer means to the U-lock. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spacer means comprises: a) a pair of cylinders for receiving the arms; and b) means for coupling the two cylinders to one another. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for coupling comprises a metal plate. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the cylinders are ovals. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spacer means comprises a loop of sufficient size to pass around the arms but not the header. 6. An improved U-lock of the type having a U-shaped bar with two arms and a lockable detachable header wherein the arms are passed through or around an object being secured by the U-lock and further wherein the arms may be longer than an object being secured by the U-lock thereby providing a gap between SU B STITUTESHEET the object and the header wherein the improvement comprises spacer means for filling the gap and means for securing the spacer means to the U-lock. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the spacer means comprises: a) a pair of apertured members for receiving the arms; and b) means for coupling the two cylinders to one another. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the means for coupling comprises a metal plate. 9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the cylinders are ovals. 10. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the spacer means comprises a loop of sufficient size to pass around the arms but not the header. 11. A locking apparatus comprising: a) a U-shaped bar having two spaced apart arms with a space therebetween; b) at least one detachable spacer apparatus having: 1) two appertured ends, one end each to receive one of the arms; and 2) spanning means coupled between the ends for blocking a portion of the space; and c) a header having two header apertures, each header aperture adapted to receive an end of one of the arms, the header for securing the spacer to the U-shaped bar. SU BS TITUTESHEET 12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the spacer means comprises: a) a pair of cylinders for receiving the arms; and b) means for coupling the two cylinders to one another. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the means for coupling comprises a metal plate. 14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the cylinders are ovals. 15. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the spacer means comprises a loop of sufficient size to pass around the arms but not the header. 16. An apparatus for use with a U-lock having a U-shaped bar with two arms, the arms having a space therebetween, and a header detachably coupled to the arms, wherein the arms may be longer than an object being locked thereby providing a gap between the U- lock and the header, the apparatus comprising a spacer detachably coupled to each arm for substantially filling the gap, the spacer having apertured ends sized to receive the arms and spanning means coupled between the ends for blocking a portion of the space. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the spacer means comprises: a) a pair of cylinders for receiving the arms; and b) means for coupling the two cylinders to one another. SUBSTITUTESHEET 18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the means for coupling comprises a metal plate. 19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the cylinders are ovals. 20. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the spacer means comprises a loop of sufficient size to pass around the arms but not the header. S UB STITUTESHEET

Inventors: BYRD RICHARD H JR, BYRD, RICHARD, H., JR.
Applicants: INTEGRATED CYCLE SYSTEMS INC, INTEGRATED CYCLE SYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E05B67
IPC codes: B62H5, E05B67, E05B71