STORING AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR BICYCLES

Abstract: Parking and locking device for rental bikes, featuring a generally horizontal element that is fixed to a parking rack and a clamping device on the bike which may interact with the parking rack. The device comprises a locking device on one of the two sections that when activated may lock a locking element that is fixed to the other part. A key or card-operated device (21) is fixed to a clamping device (20) on the bike and is designed to either lock a locking element (33) which is anchored to the parking rack (31), or a locking element (27) which is placed at the end of a wire or chain (23) that is fixed to the bike. This allows one and the same key to be used, mechanical or electronic, whether the bike lock is operated in the lock or the bike is locked outside the rack.

Description: Storing and locking device for recycles The invention concerns a parking and locking device for bicycles, in particular rental bicycles, as stated in the introduction to patent claim 1, and which comprises the ancillary parts of a bicycle, lock and special parking rack. Background A number of cities have launched schemes for borrowing/renting bicycles, consisting of a number of bicycles and a number of racks designed to hold one or more bikes. The bicycles may be free to use for anyone who so wishes, or they might be parked in the rack and used by means of a coin-operated lock. To avoid misuse or theft, locked bikes or racks may be made available only to users in a subscription programme. In this case the identities of users will be known, and to gain access to a bicycle the user must apply a special key. The key may be mechanically or electronically coded, for example an electronically coded "Smartcard". EP patent application 826 582 (Bonfils 1997) concerns a parking rack with a pair of forks jutting out horizontally for each parking space, allowing the handlebars of the bicycle to be placed in such a way that it will hang on the forks, while a chain or wire lock protects against theft. A German patent application, 43 14 677, concerns a similar parking rack with a pair of loops on which the bicycle's handlebars may hang. This patent application also assumes the use of a chain or wire lock. Neither of these two devices lend themselves well to rental schemes, as a wire lock will be cumbersome and slow to use. There is also a fastening device for rental bikes which consists of a rack with a crossbar where the bicycles are placed using a narrow spring-loaded steel clamp projecting forward affixed to the forward section of the bike frame. The clamp grips the rack crossbar, at an angle of 90 degrees as seen from the side. It has been proven that this clamping device does not work according to intentions, as the bicycle will fall off the rack if the spring is not tensioned and in strong winds. EP patent application B0777/97 concerns a bike frame furnished with a locking bolt affixed to the front, at a particular height designed for a locking device in a specially designed parking rack. The bicycle must be wheeled on level ground directly into the locking device. The rack and the adjoining area must have been levelled and must be flat to ensure the proper placement of the bicycle in the locked position. In many locations in cities, for example on slopes and hills, it will be difficult and expensive to ensure that the ground is level and flat, and in winter, snow and ice may give uneven surfaces. EP patent application B0777/97 concerns a bike that is anchored using a coiling locking wire with a locking bolt in the loose end. The bike is locked by pulling the wire through the bike wheel or possibly around a permanent object close to the bike, and back to a special key-operated locking device on the bike. In this case there are two separate locks, one lock on the rack designed for the bike front locking bolt, and a lock on the bike designed to take the separate wire locking bolt. Each lock requires a separate key. It is considered impracticable and expensive to use two sets of keys and two sets of locks. Objective The main objective of the invention is to improve on the known solutions for parking and locking rental bicycles. The parking and locking devices for such a purpose must be user friendly, i.e. quick, simple and reliable when used, whether for first-time users or regular frequent users. It is also important that the bicycle should remain sturdily placed in the parking rack, allowing it to tolerate, for example, wind without toppling over. The locking device must be vandal-proof. The design of the bicycle and the rack must be adapted thoroughly, so that each alone and together are dimensioned and designed to withstand rough treatment. It is desirable that the user, who is responsible for the bicycle while using it, can lock the bike also when not in the rack so that it cannot be taken by others while the user temporarily visits a shop etc. Users prefer that rental bikes are furnished with a carrier basket, either at the front or at the back. It is considered to be most appropriate to place it in front of the handlebar, allowing the user to have a better overview and control of his or her belongings. Several designs are known for attaching a basket to a bicycle. A special aim is to create a parking and locking device where the user employs one and the same key, mechanical or electronic, whether operating the bicycle's lock in the rack or the bicycle's lock outside the rack. The invention The invention is described in its most general form in patent application 1. Patent applications 2 - 7 designate especially advantageous design details. Their importance will become evident from the subsequent example description. Example The invention is described in more detail below, referring to the drawing, where Figure 1 shows in principle a side view of a bike and a parking rack furnished with a parking and locking device corresponding to the invention, Figure 2 shows a perspective drawing of a section of the bike in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a side view of a section of a bike in accordance with an alternative design of the invention, Figure 4 shows a front view of the carrier basket and cross-mounted clamping device for the bike in Figure 3, with a corresponding clamping device, and with a section of a part of a parking rack that is adapted to this bike, Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the clamping device on the bike in Figure 3, meshing with the parking rack, while Figure 6 shows a front view of an alternative design of a crossbar in accordance with the invention. Figure 1 shows a bike 11 with a frame tube 12 whose forward end protrudes beyond the bike's fork. On the frame tube forward end 12 is fixed, preferably by means of welding, a mounting bracket 13 which is displayed in more detail in Figure 2. The mounting bracket 13 has at its forward end a cross-mounted U-shaped rail 14 with the open end down. Above the mounting bracket 13 and fixed to it there is a steel wire basket 15 or a similar carrier basket. The parking rack comprises a horizontal crossbeam or tube 16 which is mounted on a pole 17, usually between two or more poles in a straight or angled line. Inside the tube 16 a locking device 18 is placed, which may be of any known design. How the elements on the bike 11 and the tube 16 come together will be shown in the example description below. Figure 2 shows a mounting bracket 13 without a steel wire basket and without the adjoining parts on the bike 11. The U-shaped rail 14 is welded at the forward end of a bracket 19 which is designed to be fixed to the forward end of the bike's frame tube 12. When the bike is placed in the parking rack the front wheel of the bike will be suspended off the ground. In conjunction with the fact that the bracket 19 may move freely across the crossbar, it will be possible to park the bike on an incline. Figure 3 shows sections of an alternative design of the invention, where a locking device 21 is placed in a cross-braced clamping device 20. The locking device 21, which may be an electrical latch lock, may be opened by a mechanically or electronically coded key (for example a "Smartcard" or using a PIN code, operated by a servomotor 22. This design also comprises a wire or chain lock. In this example a coiling wire 23 is anchored to a projecting pin 24 mounted on a bracket 25 at the upper end of a fork bar 26. The locking wire's 23 end loop 27 forms a locking bolt that is adapted for insertion into the locking device 21, to lock the bike to a permanent element (not shown), for example a section of a parking rack or another structure lacking a horizontal crossbar. Thus such a rental bike may be locked temporarily outside the parking system for which it has been designed. This option should preferably be tied to a card-operated or PIN-coded lock to ensure that the user's identity is known. The bike in Figure 3 has a carrier basket 28 which is fixed to a pair of L-shaped tubes 29 which go from the clamping device 20 and to the bike handlebar 30. Figure 4 shows a front view of sections of the bike that are shown in Figure 3, with a clamping device 20 with bevelled ends (at 31) and with a centrally placed locking device 21. Underneath the bike parts there is a tube-shaped bar 31 with a rectangular slot facing upwards 32 in the area where the locking device 21 will go when parking a bike. Inside the bar 31 there is an almost centrally located longitudinal locking bolt 33 which is fixed with two brackets 34, 35 fixed to a cover 36 which is fastened over an opening on the side of the bar facing down. Alternatively the locking bolt may be a U-shaped loop that is welded to the tube wall above the slot 32. At each end of the area where the clamping device 20 is to rest on, a guide in the form of two lead-in tracks 37, 38, has been welded to the bar 31. Figure 5 shows how the locking bolt 33 meshes with the locking device 21 when the bike is placed in the appropriate parking rack as in Figure 3. Figure 6 shows an alternative design of the parking rack, with a tube functioning as a slanted bar 31, for example located on a slope. Up from the bar 31 at some distance from each other protrude two brackets 39, 40. At least one of these brackets 39, 40 can be adjusted for height, allowing them to be adjusted according to the horizontal upper edge. Between the two brackets 39, 40 is fixed a spindle 41 shown with an open middle section. At its ends the spindle 41 is covered by a cylindrical cover 42, 43 with conical free ends facing each other. The purpose of the conical ends is to ease the attachment of the corresponding part of the bike. Some of the elements that are described in the examples above may also be used when free-standing. For example, this could be the parking system shown in Figure 1 , the carrier basket is attached as shown in Figure 1 and 3 and the attachment device is as shown in Figure 6.

Claims: Claims 1. Parking and locking device for bikes with a generally horizontal element which is fixed as part of a parking rack and a clamping device on the bike which may interact with the parking rack, this device comprising a locking device on one of the two parts which when activated may lock a locking bolt which is affixed to the other part, characterized by a key or card-operated locking device (21) being placed on a clamping device (20) on the bike and designed to lock either a locking element (33) which is fixed to the parking rack (31), or a locking element (27) which is fixed to the end of a wire or chain (23) that is fixed to the bike. 2. Parking and locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the bike (12) having a grooved clamping device (14) that is fixed at the forward end of the bike above the bike's centre of gravity and which is designed to be placed over a bar-shaped section (16) of a parking rack from above and clamping this bar, designed so that the bike front wheel is freely suspended above the ground. 3. Parking and locking device according to claim 2, characterized by a transverse clamping device (14) fixed to a rack (13) which supports a carrier basket (15). 4. Parking and locking device according to claim 3, characterized by the rack (13) for the transverse clamping device (14) being fixed to the forward part of the bike's (11) frame tube (12). 5. Parking and locking device according to claim 3, characterized by the rack (29) for the transverse clamping device (20) being connected to the bike handlebar (30). 6. Parking and locking device according to one of the claims 2-5, characterized by the parking rack bar (31) with the upward-facing opening (32) that allows access to a locking element (33) placed inside the bar. 7. Parking and locking device according to one of the claims 2-5, characterized by a locking element (41) that is fixed between two brackets (39, 40) which are carried by the parking rack (31), whereof at least one preferably may be adjusted for height.

Inventors: WANVIK JARLE, WANVIK, JARLE
Applicants: DESIGN MAN AS, WANVIK JARLE, DESIGN MANAGEMENT AS, WANVIK, JARLE
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B62H3
IPC codes: B62H3, B62H5